C30 
OBSERVATIONS ON RABIES. 
London, in the presence of several of my friends and pupils, and 
we found the intestinal, nay, the whole alimentary canal, bearing 
all the appearances which are exhibited in cas&s of rabies: the 
dura mater and its continuation enveloping the medulla spinalis 
were slightly vascular, and the whole substance of the brain was 
more loaded with blood than is usually perceived in a state of 
health. From the information I could gather respecting the pre¬ 
vious symptoms, it confirms the view I have formed respecting 
its being a decided case of rabies ; and this being the fact, I will 
ask, is not this an instance of spontaneous disease 1 and I am of 
opinion, that it not unfrequently occurs in those animals who have 
been confined under similar circumstances to the one I have 
mentioned. 
I shall not waste your time with any further observations on 
this head, being assured that this is worthy of some consideration; 
but at once proceed to my second division, wherein 1 have stated 
that rabies has been confounded with numerous inflammatory 
diseases, particularly those of the abdominal viscera. 
It is hardly necessary for me to remark, that, in this metro¬ 
polis, but little attention is paid by the middling classes of so¬ 
ciety, who retain dogs in their service for divers purposes; but 
unfortunately these animals are too often afflicted with disease, 
under which they labour without the least attention being paid 
to them, or any remedies administered for their relief. This 
arises from one of two causes, viz. ignorance or total neglect. 
From this circumstance, there is not the least doubt that nu¬ 
merous organic changes occur, with their corresponding train of 
symptoms, which in their aggravated form are too often mis¬ 
taken by ignorant persons for the malady in question. I have 
frequently found, upon opening the bodies of dogs which have 
been brought to me by my friends or pupils for dissection, and 
which had been previously considered in perfect health, that the 
mucous membrane of the intestinal canal was more or less in¬ 
flamed, the vessels of which were sometimes loaded with dark 
venous blood, looking as if painted, and occasionally large patches 
of ulceration. I now call your attention to the following case : 
An eminent medical practitioner residing in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Walw orth, being what is termed a sporting* character, 
kept a dog* for the double purpose of guarding the house, and 
becoming the companion of his gun during the shooting season ; 
and frequently the animal was allow ed to roam about the fields 
in the neighbourhood. One day, on the return of my friend from 
his professional avocations, he w as informed by his domestics 
that the dog was in a state of madness, having been hunted 
