HYDROPHOBIA. 
351 
above statements, that the contagion cannot be propagated to man, 
mannifers or birds, by the usual means of inoculation after 24 hours 
after the death of a rabid animal ; and that the period of latency of 
this malady is not limited, and varies in different animals. 
The virus of rabies exist in its most virulent form in the saliva, but 
we must not forget that other parts of the deceased animal are also 
capable of communicating the malady. There are positive proofs of 
this; thus Messrs. Eckel & Lafosse, succeeded in producing rabies with 
the blood and other constituents of the body ; but the percentage of 
positive results in these cases is far less than with the saliva. 
It was believed once that the bite of rabid herbivorous animals could 
not develop rabies; however, Mr. Fleming, mentions several instances 
of hydrophobia communicated by inoculation, with the saliva of cows, 
and other domesticated animals, and he says: “ that the facility with 
which the disease can be transmitted by different species depends, be¬ 
sides the activity and virulency of degree of the infecting principle, 
upon the organization, habit, or rather nature of the deceased. Carn¬ 
ivorous animals generally attacking other animals with their teeth, which 
are well adapted for wounding and tearing, they are naturally the most 
successful in inoculating with the poison.”* 
As already stated the period of latency is more or less prolonged, 
specially in man ; in fact it is sometimes so much protracted that some 
authors are inclined to think that when rabies is developed a year after 
inoculation, the patient has been subjected to a second inoculation 
which he may have forgotten. But when we read the account of cases 
whose authenticity cannot be doubted for a moment, we must surrender 
to the evidence. The Veterinary Journal for October gives two 
instances of this unusual incubative period of rabies. One is the case 
of a Mr. Brown, a veterinary student, “ who was bitten by a mad dog 
the 21st of June, 1874. The 4th of August, this year, he was vac¬ 
cinated ; the 16th, he suffered from local irritation, but not to any 
serious extent; the 19th, he died presenting unmistakable symptoms of 
hydrophobia.f The other case is that of an agricultural laborer who was 
bitten on the finger in October, 1872. The 25th of June, this year, he 
complained of being unwell ; eleven hours after he died asphyxiated* 
with all the symptoms of rabies.These two cases are positive evi¬ 
dence the rabific virus can lie in the system for years. Moreover it is 
accepted as a fact that the period of incubation lasts for months. Why 
should it not be prolonged for years ? 
* Fleming. 
+ Veterinary Journal. October, 1877. 
t Ibid* 
