HYDROPHOBIA. 
151 
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“ From the symptoms observed during life, the conclusion 
naturally suggests itself that the brain and its membranes are 
the seat of organic lesions. Indeed the specific action of the 
poison appears to be exercised, particularly in the first instance, 
upon the medulla-oblongata and the par vagum, the branches of 
which seem to lose their natural properties, hence the difficulty 
in swallowing, breathing, the depraved appetite, alteration of 
voice, and its entire loss in the dumb form, as well as the con¬ 
vulsions of the respiratory muscles, are all due to the derange¬ 
ment of this nerve, and as the nervous system becomes more 
and more deranged, complete paralysis of the respiratory mus¬ 
cles occur, and the animal dies of asphyxia. 
“The principal post-mortem appearances are aedema,or con¬ 
gestion, sometimes in patches, of the brain and spinal cord, par¬ 
ticularly at the base and plexus choroides, effusion into the 
arachnoideal space, cerebral ventricles, and the cerebro-spinal 
substance and softening of the membranes. On the lower sur¬ 
face of the medulla-oblongata, at the margin of the seventh, 
eighth, and ninth pair of nerves, the membranes are generally 
thickened, softened, and clogged together. The liver, spleen, 
kidneys, and muscular system are congested. The bladder is 
empty and its mucous membrane covered with petecchiae. The 
lungs are engorged with blood. The blood in the vessels is 
imperfectly coagulated, often black and tarry, sometimes bright 
and red in appearance. 
“The mucous membrane of the pharynx, aesophagus, stomach, 
and bowels are either greatly congested or diffusely inflamed. 
Patches of extravasation are particularly met with on the gastric 
mucous membrane, which accounts for the hemorrhagic vomit¬ 
ing which is often witnessed during the illness. The contents 
of the stomach consists generally of hay, straw, stones, gravel, 
etc., in fact of a collection of the most incongruous materials, 
which, owing to the depraved appetite, the animal has picked 
up during life. This fact is of great value, as it proves almost 
conclusively that the dog has died rabid. The tongue is often 
wounded by the teeth, its papillae congested, and the salivary 
