130 
KABIES,. 
a In the chapter on its etiology, Mr. Fleming examines 
and discusses all the circumstances to which have been 
attributed a casual influence in the production of rabies. He 
admits its spontaneity , because it appears to him impossible 
to explain, with the etiological doctrine of contagion, the 
epizootic manifestations of the disease at certain periods 
and in certain regions. As an example of spontaneous rabies 
developed under the influence of terror, Mr. Fleming gives 
a circumstantial account of its sudden appearance in a very 
small toy-terrier (joujou), which accompanied him in a journey 
by rail. This dog, which was asleep, and had every appear¬ 
ance of health, was all at once roused up from its slumbers 
by the screaming sound of a passing train. From that 
moment it gave vent to the strangest howls, was seized with 
an extreme agitation, became deaf to the voice of its master, 
sought to escape, and from its mouth flowed an abundance of 
saliva. All the characteristic symptoms of rabies were deve¬ 
loped the following day, at the end of which this disease, 
whose commencement had been so sudden, terminated in 
death. Was this rabies? Unfortunately, inoculation, which 
alone could have solved the question, was not tried. 
“ In the paragraph relative to the modes of transmission, 
Mr. Fleming has collected facts which demonstrate that it is 
not only the saliva which serves as a vehicle for the con¬ 
tagion, but that the blood itself is virulent from the com¬ 
mencement of the malady, and may transmit it by experi¬ 
mental inoculation. This chapter is very complete, and full 
of interest. 
I may say as much for that relative to the symptoma¬ 
tology of the disease. Mr. Fleming traces the characters of 
rabies in every species of animal, the human species in¬ 
cluded, and neglects none of the traits which, especially in 
the canine species, may serve to indicate it at every stage, 
from its initial period to its termination in death. 
“ Mr. Fleming’s work terminates with an expose of the 
means of treatment, and the greater portion of this chapter 
is consecrated to preservative measures; at the head of these 
Mr. Fleming places in the first line the vulgarisation of the 
symptoms. He also recommends—and this very practical 
idea would be, I believe, of the greatest utility, in a prophy¬ 
lactic point of view—that the most salient features of rabies 
should be printed on the back of the receipt which the col¬ 
lector of taxes gives to persons who keep dogs; a tax 
which is imposed upon these animals in nearly every country. 
In fact, rabies is not really dangerous, and would not cause 
so many misfortunes, if its initial period were known. If we 
