ON SPONTANEOUS RABIES. 
447 
several days, to the great terror of his mistress and her servant, 
he died* "Being in the habit of attending the old lady profession¬ 
ally, I was soon informed of the decease of her favourite, and 
accordingly my request to open the body was soon granted, when 
the following were the appearances found upon dissection: 
Head ,—On opening the head, the dura mater had its vessels 
gorged with blood, as was the other membranes; the whole sub¬ 
stance of the cerebrum was likewise in a high state of vascularity. 
The lateral ventricles contained about a drachm of bloody serum. 
Neck and Thorax .—The upper part of the larynx, pharynx, 
and the whole oesophagus, I thought were more vascular than 
usual: and in the 
Abdomen ,—the intestines were completely loaded with patches 
of ulceration ; and where it was not affected by this process, the 
mucous membrane was as if painted with dark crimson venous 
blood # : and the stomach exhibited the usual morbid appear¬ 
ances which have been so well explained in The Veterinarian, 
and in Mr. Y.’s re-publication, that I have no occasion to mention 
them here; but suffice it to say, that the morbid appearances 
he has stated, generally, were nearly all found in the dissection 
of this animal. 
Observations. 
In this instance, I am of opinion that this was a case of spontane¬ 
ous rabies, for there had been no communication with other dogs. 
This creature was kept tied up and secluded from the society of his 
species, as he had been in the custody of his mistress for five or 
six years, and I do not believe was in the street as many times: 
I am positive that the last time was nearly a year before his death. 
If thi s was not a case of spontaneous rabies, permit me to enquire 
of Mr. Youatt, what it was? I may add, that I was not alone 
in my opinion on this subject, inasmuch as several talented pro¬ 
fessional friends coincided with me. 
With regard to the original cause of this disease, it is an im¬ 
portant question; and in endeavouring to form something like a 
plausible theory, I trust I shall not be charged with ridiculous or 
extravagant notions on this head ; but that the experience of some 
of your correspondents will support or set aside my hypothesis by 
well authenticated cases, inasmuch as 1 wish for information 
upon this head. It is well known that but little attention is paid 
to the general health of dogs among the lower classes of society 
* Some author, whose name I do not at present remember (I believe my 
late talented friend Dr. Armstrong), has, in severe cases of inflammation of 
the intestines, found the arteries filled with this daik-coloured blood, and 
in this case it might have been the same. 
