HYDROPHOBIA. 
47 
that even in the dog and other allied quadrupeds the malady 
never originates except by inoculation, whilst others assert that 
it originates spontaneously in the dog even in this country. 
Sternberg, Klebbs and Fleuring are positive that rabies is ca¬ 
pable of spontaneous origin in the canine only, and that once 
generated in the dog it is transmissible by inoculation to every 
warm-blooded animal and bird. 
Although it is possible for rabies to appear independently of 
contagion, it was at one time maintained that it never occurred 
in the bitch, except it developed by contagion, but this idea 
does not hold good, although it has been proven that it is far 
less frequent in females than in males. 
Hydrophobia is a specific blood disease, due to some germ 
that has not as yet been discovered. It has not been isolated 
or cultivated, but sufficient proof has been found of its presence 
in the blood of the affected animals by the process of inocula¬ 
tion. It is known beyond doubt that a specific virus is de¬ 
veloped in the saliva of all affected animals, and implanted 
through a wound or abrasion in the epidermis, or mucous mem¬ 
brane, thus conveying the disease to other animals or man. 
It is like all other epizootic and contagious diseases; its 
prevalence is liable to many fluctuations, at times prevailing to 
an alarming extent, whilst at long periods the disease is almost 
unheard of. That its propagation is mostly due to inoculation, 
cannot be disputed, but its sources of spontaneous origin, and 
how produced, or where obtained by the victim, are circum¬ 
stances which as yet are hidden in obscurity. The influence of 
climate, season of year, food, hunger, thirst, or domestication do 
not produce rabies. The evidence in support of the opinion re¬ 
specting the non-gratification of sexual desire, is not without 
doubt, although it points strongly to the conclusion that sexual 
desire ungratified, as well as severe pain, prove to be exciting 
causes of this disease. Solitary confinement has also been ad¬ 
vanced as an exciting cause, and the idea that hot weather is 
very productive of rabies is now entirely dispelled, and shat¬ 
tered to shreds, as the following tabulated report arranged by 
