RABIES IN A MULE. 
349 
that lie might at any time lose control of any part of his joints, 
as the bones were in such diseased condition, suspected what had 
happened and had him shot. I was called to make ail autopsy, 
and found the dorsel vertebrte had separated and was very soft, 
the bones all soft and easily cut with a knife, and the periosteum 
easily stripped off; bones porous, like honey-combs. This horse 
was raised in Central Pennsylvania, on high ground. His ances¬ 
tors, for several generations, were all healthy. He was owned by 
an old and experienced horseman, and was well cared for. If 
any brother in the profession can point out a cause for this dis¬ 
ease, and its treatment, he will confer a great favor. This case 
continued about six months from the time my attention was first 
called to it. 
RABIES IN A MULE. 
By C. W. Crowley, D.V.S. 
I witnessed a case of rabies in a mule in June last. Its his¬ 
tory is as follows: Up to the second day previous to my seeing 
the animal nothing was ever noticed wrong with him ; at this 
time he was noticed somewhat nervous and irritable. The next 
day he was sent to be shod, and so far from acting as quietly as 
he usually did, he became very much excited. Upon the driver 
going to the animal’s head to try to quiet him, he sprang at the 
man, seized him by the arm and threw him on the floor. Before 
the mule could be beaten off he had bitten the man severely, both 
in the arm and leg. After this the mule was so excited and 
vicious that it was concluded to take him home and bring him 
back the next day, when it was expected by the blacksmith that 
he would be quieter. The next day he was no better—if any¬ 
thin o\ worse—so he was hitched with his mate and driven to the 
infirmary of the person who was their medical attendant. Here 
a diagnosis of hydrophobia was made, and the destruction of the 
animal recommended. But the owner was not satisfied, so I was 
called to see him, when I concurred with the practitioner in 
charge, in both particulars. It was intended to have the animal 
shot in the afternoon, but he died before that measure had been 
