446 
ON SPONTANEOUS RABIES. 
prohibited transfusion. A short time after, G. Riva, having in 
Italy performed transfusion upon two individuals, who died of 
it, the Pope prohibited it also. From this period, transfusion has 
been regarded as useless and even dangerous/’ 
In the face of all this discouraging relation, however, and in 
human practice too, transfusion has been, 'partially at least, once 
more revived. And, considering the present improved state of 
physiology, the improved state of our instrumental means for 
the purpose, and the hopelessness of the cases in which such 
an experiment is had recourse to—that of a lying-in woman 
sinking from haemorrhage—the practice cannot be censured : on 
the contrary, from the success which has in several instances 
appeared to attend it, the trials ought to be accounted highly 
praiseworthy. As far as the practice has gone, we seem to have 
obtained possession of one fact concerning it, which is, that the 
blood should be taken from an animal of the same kind as the 
one intended to receive it, and from one in full and perfect 
health. 
ON SPONTANEOUS RABIES. 
By Mr. Dewhurst. 
To the Editors of “ The Veterinarian 
Gentlemen, 
In the number of your journal for last June, among a series of 
able annotations on Rabies, by Mr. Youatt, appended to Dr. 
Elliotson’s case of hydrophobia, detailed in his interesting clinical 
lecture, Mr. Youatt, to use his own words, “ demands some proof 
of its ever being spontaneous in the dog or the cat,” and wishes for 
one authenticated proof of it, as, notwithstanding all his experience, 
he has not seen it occur without previous inoculation. Now r , I do 
not pretend to have had much experience, but I have seen a little 
of this disease, both in the human as well as in the canine species; 
and perhaps may be able, by the relation of one case in the latter, 
to answ r er the question of that gentleman, and I trust with satis¬ 
faction. 
It is w r ell known that many persons keep dogs eternally con¬ 
fined by themselves to their kennel, or in a cellar; and I am 
acquainted with some who never let these unfortunate creatures 
enjoy the least liberty. A fine spaniel dog, kept by an old 
widow lady, for the protection of her house, and confined in a 
coal cellar, the door of which was kept open towards the area, 
w r as seized with symptoms indicating a violent attack of rabies, 
but which need not here be enumerated; and after lingering 
