MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 691 
I knew of one instance of hydrophobia after the expiration of 
twelve months: a man had been bitten on the day of the anni¬ 
versary meeting of some medical men at the Thatched House, 
and upon that day twelve months, when the same parties were 
assembled, he was attacked with hydrophobia. 
Upon that identical day"?—Yes. 
Is that the only instance you know of after that length of time ?— 
The only instance. 
Had he never any medical treatment in the intermediate time ?— 
None that I know of. I do not mention it from my own know¬ 
ledge ; I had the account from my father. 
Do you consider that the virus of the dog’s saliva becomes ex¬ 
hausted by the biting of many objects?—It is a matter of opinion. 
I should think not. There is a continued secretion; an abundant 
secretion of saliva would continue to flow. If many were bit in 
a rapid succession, the saliva might be wiped from the teeth. 
I think I understand you to say you never knew of more than one 
instance, where the part was cut out, that the party ever became 
hydrophobic?—No; I have in very many instances cut the part 
out, but I never have known a case of hydrophobia after it was 
so removed. 
Is not that the case when the part is burnt with caustic?—I 
am not so satisfied with respect to caustic, unless it be strong 
nitric acid. 
If you have a large laceration, there would be a chance of 
caustic not coming into the different parts ?—The nitric acid acts 
very deeply, but other caustic, for instance caustic pot-ash, when 
there is any w^ound, becomes decomposed by the blood, and 
does not penetrate to the depth that nitric acid does. The nitric 
acid forms a dry eschar: but I prefer the knife, because in every 
instance where the caustic can be applied, the knife may be 
employed. 
In all those cases where the part w as excised, what w as the 
time that elapsed after the bite was inflicted?—In one instance 
five days: it has frequently happened after the lapse of many 
hours. Once when I was bitten myself the part w as not taken 
out of my leg till after six hours; I was so situated that I could 
not have it taken out sooner. 
Do you conceive that it can be ascertained with precision, by a 
post mortem examination, whether the animal, man or dog, died 
rabid or not?—I will first answer with respect to the dog, and 
that I have in some measure already done. I think it difficult to 
decide positively whether the animal does die rabid or no; nor 
can that question be decided until a series of experiments are 
