668 
D. E. SALMON. 
struction ; while the decomposition and retention of decompos¬ 
ing solids and fluids in the bowels would result in autoinfection, 
with also the probable dependence of these conditions upon the 
introduction of a parasite. 
(To be continued.') 
RABIES AND HYDROPHOBIA^ ~ 
By D. E. Salmon, D. V. M., Washington, D. C. 
A Paper read before the American Veterinary Medical Association, at Detroit, Mich., 
Sept. 6, 1900. 
(Continuedfrom page 584.) 
THE FREQUENCY OF RABIES. 
Passing to the second contention, viz., that rabies is ex¬ 
tremely rare, even in animals and that not one case in a million 
supposed to be rabies is properly diagnosed, let us briefly inquire 
into the facts. There are certain European countries which 
keep very accurate statistics of rabies in animals and the official 
reports of which may be taken as fairly reliable. In Germany 
these reports show 1202 cases of rabies in animals in 1898, in 
France 2374 cases in 1899, in Belgium 444 cases. In Great 
Britain in 1895 there were 727 cases; in Hungary in 1895, 
1397 cases. 
In the United States unfortunately we do not have general 
statistics concerning this disease. The writer has recently re¬ 
quested information from the State Veterinarians and from vet¬ 
erinary schools. A number of very carefully prepared replies 
have been received, which are summarized as follows : 
* 
Dr. Charles P. Lyman, School of Veterinary Medicine, Har¬ 
vard University, Boston, 25 or 30 cases in 18 years. Mentions 
the case of a policeman in the town of Lynn who was bitten 
and died. 
Dr. W. J. Coates, American Veterinary College, New York, 
seven cases a year for 25 years. 
Dr. H. D. Gill, New York College of Veterinary Surgeons, 
New York, eight cases a year for three years. 
