334 
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY. 
dogs being starved to death in long voyages, and in cases of ship¬ 
wreck, but not a single instance has been recorded of madness 
being thus produced. 
The rabid virus, in order to produce its fatal effects, must be 
received on some abraded, or wounded, or mucous surface. On 
the sound integument it is harmless. There are a thousand 
proofs of this. Almost every author acknowledges it, and many 
a time have my hands been covered with the poison. I always 
used to examine them very carefully before I commenced the dis¬ 
section of any animal on which suspicion had rested, and to 
cover every unsound part with adhesive plaister. Another ex¬ 
amination, fully as careful, followed the dissection. The lunar 
caustic was freely applied to every place that had been acci¬ 
dentally scratched, and to every spot of the slightest doubtful 
character that had been previously overlooked. 
The slightest Abrasion sufficient .—The disease may be pro¬ 
duced through the medium of the smallest abrasion. The case of 
Mrs. Duff is well known. She had a French poodle of which 
she was very fond, and which she was in the habit of allowing 
to lick her face. He became rabid; but the disease was not 
recognized in its early stage. There was a small pimple on her 
chin of which she had rubbed off the head. The dog was per¬ 
mitted to indulge in its usual caresses. The saliva was brought 
in contact with the exposed surface of the pimple, and she 
became hydrophobous and died*. As to the danger which would 
attend the application of the poison to abraded or wounded 
surfaces, however small, there can be no doubt. 
Mucous Surfaces .—The case is not so plain with regard to 
niucous surfaces. A dog belonging to a Venetian nobleman 
became rabid, and was ordered to be destroyed. The master was 
much attached to his quadruped friend, and kissed him ere 
he parted from him. He paid the penalty of this imprudent 
fondness with his lifeff. A physician, as stated in the last Lecture, 
dying hydrophobous, imprinted a parting kiss on the lips of his 
child. The infant soon followed its parent. A man at Lyons 
was bitten by a rabid dog. He continued to cohabit with his 
wife until symptoms of this fearful malady began to appear. 
He died, and shortly afterwards she too became hydrophobous, 
and perished];. On the other hand, a maiden would not be 
parted from her lover, but lavished on him her caresses. He 
died, but she was not harmed. We dare not, then, to affirm that 
the virus is always dangerous or fatal, when deposited on a mu- 
* Lancet, 1829-30, i, p. 619 
T Cardaims Consen. Medic. Tract. 5, 
X Instructions, V’^et. i. p. 29.'). 
