346 
J. A. COUTURE. 
is, no doubt, a result of the spreading of the inflammation from the in¬ 
testines to these organs. This is quite a common occurrence, especially 
when any of the lower abdominal organs are inflamed ; and it is hardly 
a subject for wonder, when we consider the vascularity of the ovaries, 
and their relation to the other abdominal viscera.” 
A. A. H. 
HYDROPHOBIA. 
A Paper read before the Montreal Veterinary Medical Association, the 22 d of Novem¬ 
ber , 1S77, by J. A. Couture, V. S., Lecturer on Materia Medica and Demonstrator 
of Anatomy in the French Department of the Montreal Veterinary College. 
- c 00 - 
Mr. President and Gentlemen : 
Hydrophobia is described by Williams to be “ a disease originating 
in the canine, and less frequently in the feline race. During the pro¬ 
gress of the malady a specific virus is developed in the saliva of the 
affected animal, which being implanted through a wound, bruise or 
thin epidermis without abrasion or wound, conveys the disease to other 
animals and to man. After an indefinite period of latency, it causes 
pain and stiffness in the bitten part, excitement, feverishness, inability 
to swallow liquids, a tendency to bite, great prostration and death. 
The poison is only recognized by its morbid effects in the animal 
economy.” * 
Hydrophobia is a disease which has been known from very early 
times. Some writers fancy they can trace it to Homer ; however, Aris¬ 
totle, who lived a century after Hippocrates and more than six after 
Homer, is the first who mentions the rabies in dogs. He says : “ Dogs 
are subject to three diseases—the rabies, the angina, and the podagra. 
Rabies causes madness in dogs, and all animals they then bite have the 
rabies excepting man. This kills dogs and all that are bitten excepting 
man'" f This idea of the man being free from the contagion of rabies 
seems to have prevailed for a certain period. Like other epizootic and 
contagious diseases the prevalence of hydrophobia is liable to many 
fluctuations, at times prevailing to a great extent, whilst for long 
periods the disease is almost unheard of. Baukin says that “ in 1271 
wolves became affected with rabies in Franconia, and contrary to their 
* Williams’ “ Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine.” 
t Mosely on Hydrophobia. 
