MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 73 
I have been fifteen years surgeon to St. Thomas's Hospital, and 
upwards of twenty years engaged in practice. 
Have you met with instances in the course of your practice of 
hydrophobia?—I have. 
Is it a frequent occurrence?—No, very rare. 
Is it more frequent now' than it used to be?—Not in my ex¬ 
perience. 
How many cases have you met with altogether ?—I think ten, 
as far as my recollection serves me. 
Is the disease so peculiar, and so well known by the informa-* 
tion you obtain from the first symptoms till death, that a w r ell- 
informed medical man can have no doubt of the nature of the 
complaint ?—I should say, no medical observer, who has seen 
a single instance of it, could mistake the disease. ' 
Some of the symptoms of hydrophobia exhibit themselves in 
other complaints?—Certainly. 
Then non-medical persons would be apt to call that hydro¬ 
phobia which might be a distinct complaint?—Yes, probably. 
Could you mention any disease like hydrophobia?— Tetanus 
most resembles it; but the symptoms are so peculiar, that I much 
doubt if any intelligent observer, professional or other, could be 
deceived, who had seen one genuine case of hydrophobia. 
But there have been medical men of eminence who have 
denied the existence of such a complaint as hydrophobia, and who 
have considered the cases of it on record as ill reported descrip¬ 
tions of some other disease?—I should say, such persons never 
saw a case of the disease; and further, that they w ere persons 
whose minds were disposed to scepticism. 
Did not an instance occur lately of a death from hydrophobia 
in St. Thomas’s Hospital?—It did. 
How long ago ?—At a guess, I should say six weeks; it might 
be two months. 
Did you see that case?—Yes, I did. 
Is that the only case you are aw are of in this year ?—The only 
case. 
How' many cases have come under your notice in that hospital 
altogether?—I should think in that hospital, and the adjoining 
hospital of Guy's, I may have seen five cases. 
In twenty years?—Yes. 
Are not those two the largest hospitals in London?—Together 
they are larger than any other single hospital, but St. Bartho¬ 
lomew's is larger than either of them. 
Have you heard of any other instances occurring lately of 
hydrophobia?—I have heard, as we all have heard; but I have 
not met with any other well authenticated case. 
