HYDROPHOBIA CURABLE BY USING SUBMERSION. 99 
to the extent of half drowning the patient. Unless this effect be 
produced, the happy result cannot be insured. It was the perusal 
of some cases published by Dr. Currie (of Liverpool), to shew the 
efficacy of cold immersion in idiopathic tetanus, that first led the 
writer to offer a “ conjecture” that the same kind of treatment 
might prove effectual in what appeared to him an analogous dis- 
ease, viz. hydrophobia : a suggestion which, when he came to 
make inquiries, he found had already been put to practical test by 
Dr. Hillary. But Dr. Hillary, it turned out, had been himself 
forestalled ; the employment of the remedy being discovered to be 
no less ancient than the time of Celsus. This certainly establishes 
the oldness of the remedy in question : but we do not think the 
author has been equally happy in demonstrating, on the authority 
of others, its alleged efficacy as a curative remedy. If submersion 
had proved so infallible, how comes it that the antidote ever be- 
came lost sight of so long as the viruses continued their merciless 
ravages 1 We remember the days, and so will some of our readers, 
when cold affusion — not submersion — was represented most highly 
in veterinary practice as a remedy against tetanus. Coleman 
lauded it to the skies. A little while, however, and no more 
was heard about it. No veterinarian of the present day, we will 
take upon ourselves to affirm, dreams of employing affusion. 
Should, however, any member of our profession harbour in his 
mind a desire to make a trial of submersion , let him first read the 
pamphlet we have given him an insight into, and then do his best 
to submerge his quadruped patient ; though, if it be a horse or a cow, 
we have a notion he will find the administration of the remedy no 
such very easy task. Still, in certain situations, a trial of the kind 
might be made, and, in such emergency and danger as a case of 
hydrophobia presents, most assuredly, did circumstances permit, 
ought to be made. 
