72 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 
be easily detected. It resembles some fevers ; but after the 
symptoms of hydrophobia, that is, the dread of water and the 
extreme sensibility of the surface, present themselves, the disease 
is then easily recognized to be hydrophobia, and is then incurable. 
I ask you whether, if a person was brought to you who had 
been bitten by a mad dog, after the usual operation of excision * 
or caustic, you would think it advisable to prescribe any medi¬ 
cine ?—Yes; if a patient was brought to me to whom caustic 
alone had been applied, I should think it necessary to give him 
medicines, and to apply blisters over the spine; if excision had 
been performed by a very skilful and careful operator, I should 
scarcely think it necessary to give him medicine. There is a 
great difference of opinion among the profession with regard to 
the effect of the virus being introduced into the system. My 
opinion is, that excision of the part, any time between the in¬ 
fliction of the bite and the first symptom of the disease would 
be equally efficacious as w r hen the bitten part is taken out im¬ 
mediately after the bite ; but I ought to say, that my opinion upon 
the disease is, perhaps, peculiar. I consider that it is very doubt¬ 
ful whether absorption ever takes place. My reason is this, that 
all morbid poisons, of whatsoever kind they may be, whether 
small pox, cow pox, syphilitic virus, plague, or any other morbid 
poison, when introduced into the system, produce their effects 
almost always within a limited time ; hydrophobia does not.. 
The period varies from a few hours to a considerable time: the 
proper inference to be draw n from that fact is, that the hydro- 
phobic virus is not regulated by the usual law s of morbid poisons. 
On that account, I am inclined to believe that it remains in the 
part that is so bitten, and the individual is safe till the habit gets 
into a peculiar state, which we term, in medical language, pre¬ 
disposing ; so that the part may be advantageously excised in 
the intervening time. 
Can you suggest any legislative measure which could be 
adopted for the purpose of decreasing the disease of canine mad¬ 
ness ?—I think the most feasible measure is that which must 
occur to every person, I mean the confinement of dogs after the 
first appearance of hydrophobia in any district. I should say 
also, that much good would result from diminishing, very con¬ 
siderably, the number of the dogs belonging to the poor, by 
taxation, or some other measure. 
Benjamin Travers , Esquire, called in, and examined. 
Are you a surgeon?—Yes. 
What length of hospital and general practice have you had ?— 
