638 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 
of offence and defence. There have been instances in the wolf 
and in the cat, and in the fox; those are all carnivorous animals, 
and defend themselves by their teeth. 
Have you known of late of an increased number of dogs being 
bitten and brought to you?—I have heard of an increase of cases, 
but I have not seen one: my opinion is, that the public report is 
gveatly exaggerated as to the number of dog's and as to the 
number of persons affected: I refer to the human subject. 
You have no doubt that a great number of persons have been 
bitten by dog's?—A great number of persons have been bitten 
by dogs, and again a great many persons have, in consequence 
of having been bitten, become mad, but a great number of them 
have escaped: it is by no means a highly contagious poison, 
which will produce its effect in every case : many escape the disease. 
Can you account for that?—Yes; the fact is, there are two 
circumstances alw r ays necessary for the propagation of every con¬ 
tagious disease,—the susceptibility to be affected as well as the 
application of the poison. If twenty persons w ere inoculated for 
small-pox, some might take it and some not: I believe with re¬ 
gard to inoculation with small-pox poison, that new matter must 
be formed in the part, or no effect will take place. The poison of 
the viper becomes absorbed and produces its effect immediately ; 
if it does not produce its effect in five minutes, it will not produce 
it at all. As to small-pox, the parts are not susceptible of inflam¬ 
mation for many days, and you do not impregnate the system 
with the poison introduced, but with the poison afterwards 
formed. The poison being introduced into the part will not of 
itself alone produce the disease, so that it is necessary to have 
fresh small-pox absorbed before you can produce it. 
Have you ever used the knife on a dog which has been bitten 
so as to cut out the part?--Yes; there have been many instances 
of their being excised and cauterized. 
Have they escaped ?—I have never known an instance of the 
part being' taken out immediately after the animal has been bitten 
and the disease appearing, but I have known very few instances 
in dogs of that being done. It is a fact, with regard to this 
poison, that the parts in some cases are not locally irritated. We 
cannot explain why the poison of the viper should produce an 
immediate effect, and in the case of small-pox not produce the 
effect for many days, any more than we can say why ipecacuanha 
should produce vomiting and rhubarb purging, though we know 
the facts. 
Have you any cases shewing for what length of time a horse 
may be bitten before he shews the disease ? —In all instances of 
hydrophobia I have seen in horses, it has been within a month. 
