128 
ON RABIES CANINA. 
We were most successful with the extract; but instances of failure 
occurring by far too frequently, it was by degrees abandoned. In 
two cases it was given in smaller doses, just sufficient to produce 
a slight effect on the dog, and continued daily during five weeks, 
and in both it perfectly succeeded. 
I recollect that there was much apparent caprice attending the 
exhibition of the box. Sometimes for two or three months we 
did not lose a dog; and then we had six or eight successive 
instances of failure. The medicine was prepared as usual, and in 
each case the dogs had been bitten by others decidedly rabid. 
The next celebrated preventive to which I resorted was the 
Alisma Plantago, first introduced by a Russian nobleman named 
Lewsheim : its boasted efficacy strictly inquired into by the magis¬ 
tracy of Toola, and then the recipe purchased by the Russian 
government at an immense price. I began with the English 
Alisma Plantago. It griped, purged, and produced some giddi¬ 
ness ; but it prevented not the appearance of the disease, nor 
arrested its progress. I then procured the supposed Russian Alis¬ 
ma from our herbalists. In one instance only did the symptoms 
of the disease appear to be mitigated ; and it in no case succeeded 
as a preventive. 
Through the kindness of the late Sir Joseph Banks I procured 
a little of the true Alisma, but not in sufficient quantity to try its 
preventive power. I soon, however, had opportunity to put its 
curative efficacy to the test. A coach-dog belonging to the Sar¬ 
dinian ambassador was rabid, and frightfully ferocious. With 
some difficulty, and a little danger, I contrived to give him two 
drachms of the powdered root, suspended in a little mucilage. 
He was evidently quieter. Six hours afterwards the same quan¬ 
tity was administered. His desire to do mischief altogether ceas¬ 
ed ; the harmless or paralytic stage of the malady supervened, 
and he died in twenty hours from the second dose. 
About the same time I administered the Alisma to another dog, 
rabid and ferocious. His ferocity was subdued ; the disease seem¬ 
ed to be protracted, but he died. I have since, on three occa¬ 
sions, tried the Alisma of our herbalists, but not with any satis¬ 
factory result. 
I then tried the Belladonna which Dr. Luighi Brera, of Mo¬ 
dena, had given with so much success. As a cure, it utterly fail¬ 
ed, although in doses of two scruples. As a preventive, it had 
evident power. Beginning with two grains, and increasing the 
dose to a scruple twice every day, and continuing this for six 
weeks, I am confident that I saved several dogs; but I lost al¬ 
most as many. They all became debilitated, and most rapidly 
emaciated : one seemed to die of pure marasmus. Four died de- 
