(j 
C?ommunicationsi attii 
Ars vcterinaria post inedicinam secunda est.— Vegetius . 
ON RABIES CANINA. 
By W. You att. 
[ Continued from vol. ii, page 132. ] 
The concluding portion of my essay on Rabies Canina, com¬ 
prising the medical treatment of this dreadful disease, has been 
too long delayed. The truth is, that I had nothing satisfactory to 
offer; but hoped that zealously continued experiment, or some for¬ 
tunate accident, might enable me to communicate that .which 
would have been most gratifying to myself, and a valuable addi¬ 
tion to our stock of pathological knowledge. Not one instance, 
however, of successful treatment of rabies has occurred; and I 
am anxious to get rid of an unpleasant subject. 
Other practitioners are said to have been more skilful, or more 
fortunate; and, indeed, I was told by one of them, that he had 
cured several cases of rabies. I know that that gentleman does 
read The Veterinarian; and I would call upon him respect¬ 
fully, but firmly, to favour the medical world with the history of 
these cases. He will not discharge the duty which he owes the 
profession or the public if he declines the challenge. 
In The Veterinarian for April last I related some experi¬ 
ments on the alisma plantago, the belladonna, and the Scutellaria, 
as preventives. The first was given in various doses ; sometimes 
without the slightest effect, but generally with an evident although 
temporary mitigation of the symptoms. The following is the most 
marked case: — 
Feb . 13,1819.—Mrs. Hodges’s (5, Hertford Street) spaniel had 
for two days refused its food. It had become exceedingly irrita¬ 
ble, and had worried a cat of which it was previously very fond. 
It lapped its own urine, and frequently uttered the characteristic 
howl. It was becoming weak about the loins, and began to stag¬ 
ger. As he was brought along the street to me, he suddenly 
sprung on a dog and bit him. His eyes were red, and somewhat 
protruded ; and his look was wild. His lower jaw hung down a 
little , and his tongue was slightly protruded and leaden-coloured. 
He was restless, and shifted his posture every moment. His 
breathing was laborious, and slight spasms were observed about 
his cheek and mouth. 
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