MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 75 
Do you think, between the bite and the symptoms shewing 
themselves, the probability is, there would be a beneficial effect 
produced by excision'?—I think so. 
Do you think that the virus is immediately taken into the cir¬ 
culation'?—Certainly not. 
Do you think it remains morbid in the part for any length of 
time till a disposition arises to receive it?—What we call a spe¬ 
cific irritation is communicated by the saliva, and then the morbid 
poison is secreted. 
Must that irritation arise first, in order to receive the virus into 
the circulation?—That irritation must exist in order to form the 
virus. The poison of hydrophobia is formed in consequence of 
a specific irritation set up by the saliva of the dog; the morbid 
poison is formed by the human system in consequence of the 
inoculation w ith the dog's saliva. 
Do you think that the dog emits a certain portion of virus into 
the w ound ?—If by virus you mean saliva, I do. 
Is it not that virus which creates the irritation ? do you think 
that there is any new formation of virus that takes place ; or is it 
the same virus transmitted from the dog?—I think there is a 
new and morbid secretion, in consequence of the specific irrita¬ 
tion communicated by the saliva of the dog. 
What time, in your experience, having seen so many patients, 
what is the general length of time, after the party has been bitten, 
up to the time that he is affected by hydrophobia ?—I should 
say, varying from ten days to three months, as nearly as 1 can 
form an average. \ 
Have you known many above three months?—No. 
Have you heard of a case of twelve months : do you consider 
that as an authentic case ?—I have heard of such a case, and 
which was generally regarded as w ell authenticated. If three 
months may elapse, I do not know why tw elve months may not 
elmase. 
Is that accounted for by medical men ?—No ; the subject of 
morbid poisons is altogether obscure; and this is a disease sui 
generis . 
You have heard of cases occurring a very considerable time 
beyond three months, though you have not met with them ?— 
Yes. 
A case has been mentioned as being on record, of a father 
dying of hydrophobia, and taking leave of his children ; and he 
kissed one of them, and that child took the disease of hydropho¬ 
bia ; do you not think that one of these circumstances must have 
been the case, either that the child itself must have been bitten, 
or that there must have been a sore upon the child's mouth; do 
