158 
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 
either indicated or excited a strong suspicion of the existence of 
rabies in an incipient stage. 
Of what breed was the dog?—I am not sure ; the examination 
of the body of the dog had commenced previously to my arrival, 
I was, therefore, too much interested at the time to notice this 
circumstance; but the dog was of considerable size, and, I am 
informed, was a mongrel spaniel. 
Have you had, since your introduction into the profession, 
many cases of the same nature?—No ; I never had a case under 
my own treatment; but from the circumstances of my father and 
my friends having had several, and from the general interest 
felt upon the subject by all persons, I have attended very much 
to all the cases which have been of late published, and particu¬ 
larly to the masterly cases related by Dr Marshall, in his Morbid 
Anatomy of the Brain. The only instance in which this dog dis¬ 
played any symptom which could be referred to rabies, was the 
act of biting the child, though it was not used to be snappish, 
nor did he display any symptom subsequently to the bite, at 
least none was observed. The animal was killed as a measure 
of precaution. 
From the facts of this case, it is clear that a state calculated 
to terminate in rabies may exist in the dog, without exciting any 
symptoms that shall appear remarkable to by-standers, and that, 
in such a state, a bite from the animal may excite in the human 
being the disease called hydrophobia. I should deduce the 
same inference from my reading generally. I wish, therefore, 
to suggest to the Committee the propriety of 
1st, Obliging all dogs to be kept muzzled during certain 
periods of the year, May, June, and July. 
2d, To cause all dogs, who may have bitten any one, whether 
in a rabid state or not, to be put by their masters under the 
surveillance of a public officer, till such time as he declares 
them to be harmless. 
3d, To permit all dogs w hatever, w hether with masters or not, 
that maybe found unmuzzled in the street during' the above- 
named periods, to be put to death. 
I am sure, moreover, that the^e can be but one safe w ay of 
treating such cases, viz. to cauterize the wound after having ex¬ 
cised the bitten part. As a general rule, this should never be 
omitted. I have, therefore, made it a rule never to allow of any 
patient coming under my care, with a possibility of getting the 
malady, unless the friends' will consent to the operation. I 
followed this rule in the case of the boy mentioned already, as 
now 7 under my care; cut out the parts, and cauterized the sur¬ 
faces of the wound w ell with lunar caustic. The boy is doing 
well. 
