356 
APPENDIX.-D. 
venience, while the consequences are certainly productive of all 
the safety that can be wished for. On this immediate part of 
the subject, however, I am well aware that intense mental dread 
is often excited. From simple fear of the consequences many 
have died; many others have been rendered temporarily insane, 
and some permanently so. Would I could instil into such 
minds the uncertainty of the disease appearing at all: that is, 
even when no means have been used; and the perfect security 
they may feel who have submitted to the preventive treatment 
detailed. I have been bitten several times,—Mr. Youatt seve¬ 
ral also: yet in neither of us was any dread occasioned; our 
experience taught us the absolute certainty of the preventive 
means; and such 1 take on me to pronounce they always prove 
when performed with dexterity and judgment. It unfortunately 
happens that these prejudices and fears are too often very deep- 
rooted, and even immovable. What is then to be done 1 Is 
nothing to be attempted % Yes : we will hope that a physician 
may be found for the mind also, in the judicious medical atten¬ 
dant on the case; to whom I hardly need hint, that, in those 
desperate instances of mental excitement, it is totally in vain to 
argue down the needless dread and imaginary dangers fostered 
in a distempered mind; it is still more useless, it would be 
even cruel, to be offended or made harsh by them. No one, I 
presume, would harass himself with fear, could he avoid it; 
fear weakens the mind, and it is remarkable, that it often 
makes its greatest inroads on an otherwise powerful one. 
Arguing here is reasoning against fearful odds; it is, in fact, 
offering reason at the shrine of insanity; for a person so im¬ 
pressed is, to all intents and purposes, on that question, beside 
himself.” 
