30 
RABIES CANINA. 
muzzle into the water. When the flow of saliva has ceased he 
appears to be annoyed by some viscid matter in the fauces, and, 
in the most eager and extraordinary manner, works with his 
paws at the corner of his mouth to get rid of it; and, while 
thus employed, frequently loses his balance and rolls over. 
A loss of power over the voluntary muscles is now observed. 
It begins with the lower jaw : it hangs down and the mouth is 
partially open; by a sudden effort he can sometimes close 
it; occasionally the paralysis is complete. The tongue is af¬ 
fected in a less degree : it protrudes from the mouth, and be¬ 
comes of a leaden colour. The dog is able to use his tongue 
in the act of lapping, but the mouth is not sufficiently closed 
to retain the water; therefore while he hangs over the fluid, 
eagerly lapping for several minutes, it is very little or not at all 
diminished. He catches at his food with an eao:er and ill- 
directed snap, and often fails in his attempt to seize it; he 
bolts it unchewed, or drops it in the act of chewing. In the 
more advanced stage of the disease this paralysis frequently 
disappears from the head, and attacks the loins and extremities. 
A peculiar indecision attends every motion ; the animal stag¬ 
gers about, and frequently falls. Previous to this he is in al¬ 
most incessant action: he scrapes his bed together, and dis¬ 
poses it in various forms; he starts up and eagerly gazes at 
some real or imaginary object; he traces the fancied path of 
something floating around him; he fixes his eye intently on 
some spot on the wall or partition ; he suddenly plunges at it; 
his eyes then close and his head droops; in an instant he starts 
and gazes wildly around. The voice of his master re-calls him 
from this delirium; he acknowledges him and endeavours to 
fondle on him, but in a moment he is wandering again. 
He frequently, with his head erect, utters a short and veiy 
peculiar howl; or, if he barks, it is a hoarse inward sound, 
altogether dissimilar from his usual tone and generally termi¬ 
nating with this characteristic howl. Respiration is always af¬ 
fected ; often the breathing is very laborious, and the iffspira- 
tion is attended with a very singular, grating, choaking noise. 
On the fourth, fifth, or sixth day of the disease, he dies; oc¬ 
casionally in slight convulsions, but oftener without a struggle. 
Of the symptoms, popularly, but erroneously supposed to ac¬ 
company Rabies, I will only say, that the rabid dog never has 
fits: the existence of epilepsy is a clear proof that there is no 
Rabies. There is no dread of water; no spasm attending the ef¬ 
fort to stv allow; but a most extraordinary and unquenchable 
thirst. There is no fear excited in other dogs, no wondrous in¬ 
stinct warning them of danger. There is no peculiar and offensive 
