344 A CASK OF HYDROPHOBIA, 
The post-mortem examination threw no light upon the disease, 
nor could it be expected to do so * 1 . The affection is one evidently 
of the nervous system, and chiefly, it would be supposed, of that 
part of it which is connected with the organs of deglutition and 
respiration, and in the secretory apparatus of the mouth; and 
one, I think, evidently not of necessity inflammatory, though 
1 It is somewhat singular that the post-mortem appearances 
should be represented as so vague and uncertain in the human 
being, while in the dog they are so decisive. I would here 
beg leave to refer Dr. Elliotson, and my readers, to the account 
of this matter in the Veterinarian, vol. i, p. 62. In the 
present case, however, the examination after death did “throw” 
some “ light on the disease.” The medulla oblongata, which or 
its membranes I have always found affected in the dog, was 
rather softer than usual—the cardiac half of the stomach was 
redder than usual, and the larynx and the adjoining parts were 
in a state of congestion . I confess that I do not know what 
more any one would wish to find. They are precisely the cha¬ 
racteristic morbid appearances of rabies. The truth of the 
matter, I believe, is, that medical men have been so long ac¬ 
customed to persuade themselves that examinations after death 
can throw no light on the nature of this dreadful disease, that 
they endeavour to explain the morbid changes which do force 
themselves upon them in any other way than as being illustra¬ 
tive of this malady. “ Softening of the medulla oblonga¬ 
ta,” “redness of the cardiac portion of the stomach,” and 
“congestion of the larynx and the parts adjoining,” what could 
be more satisfactory? It is pleasing to have an opinion, which 
I believe I was one of the first to hazard, confirmed to a consi¬ 
derable extent by so high an authority at that of Dr. Elliotson. 
I have ventured to say (Veterinarian, vol. i, p. 153) that 
“rabies is an affection of the respiratory system of nerves, or 
those that are employed in the instinctive and involuntary actions 
connected with respiration, and which arise from the medulla 
oblongata.” Dr. Elliotson states, “the affection is one evidently 
of the nervous system, and chiefly, it would be supposed, of that 
part of it which is connected with the organs of deglutition and 
respiration, and in the secretory apparatus of the mouth.” 
The illustration was as follows : “ They (the respiratory nerves) 
are the portio dura of the seventh pair, distributed over the face; 
the glosso-pharyngeus, which supplies the pharynx and the tongue; 
the par vagum, wandering to the pharynx, the larynx, the heart, 
the lungs, and the stomach; the recurrent, ramifying on the 
muscles of the larynx, and the membrane of the glottis; and 
