PROPHYLACTIC AGAINST HYDROPHOBIA. 
665 
as regards hydrophobia is self-evident. The case which gave 
rise to the inquiry is that of a man, who, annoyed at the 
nightly barking of a dog, went out and endeavoured to 
destroy the animal. The latter, infuriated by the repeated 
blows, bit his antagonist in the hand ; and the latter, who 
felt no apprehension whatever about the wound, as the dog 
had not given any signs of hydrophobia, was, some time after¬ 
wards, seized with the disease. The question which arises out 
of this case is, whether hydrophobia can be suddenly developed 
in an animal when under a high state of excitement, be the 
latter owing to heat, thirst, the venereal appetite, or anger. 
PROPHYLACTIC AGAINST HYDROPHOBIA. 
Dr. Petit says that as soon as an individual is bitten by 
an animal supposed to be mad, he ought to wash the wound 
and neighbouring parts with ammonia or boiling milk, and 
continue the washing for at least three days. (A footnote 
informs us that the Dr. prefers to cauterize the wound either 
with the actual cautery or sulphuric acid.) At the same time 
the patient should take every morning fasting, for nine con¬ 
secutive days, a glass of the following decoction, warm: 
Angelica root (in powder) . 
Gentian root „ 
Venice treacle 
Assafcetida (well crushed) . 
Oyster shells (in powder) . 
Sweetbriar root 
Root of viper’s grass (unscraped) 
Rue tops (fresh) 
Sage (chopped fine) 
Sea salt 
1 Clove of garlic. 
3 Leeks with the beards. 
2 Small onions. 
Daisies, a pinch. 
. 30 
. 30 
. 30 
. 15 
. 15 
. 40 
. 40 
grammes. 
jj 
5 » 
53 
3 > 
33 
► of each half a handful. 
Boil all together with three litres of red wine of the best 
quality possible, in a covered pot, until reduced to half, then 
express and strain. The decoction may be kept for nine days 
in closed bottles. Delicate and weak patients sometimes 
vomit the first doses, but the stomach soon becomes ac¬ 
customed to the curious mixture. For children under ten the 
t 
dose is only half a glassful, and for those between ten and 
twenty, three quarters .—Repertoire de Pharmacie. 
[The above is a curious prescription for a physician to 
write in the nineteenth century. After an immediate cauter¬ 
ization, we have no doubt it might be a very useful medicine, • 
but not otherwise .—Editor of Chemical Newsd\ 
xxxiii. 67 
