1807.] 
the bite of a rabid animal, is, the entire 
removal of the part bitten, and that as 
foon as potfible after the infliction of the 
wound ; but provided it be within forty- 
eight hours, the perfons may coulider 
themfelves fecure from this dreadful com- 
plaint, as abforption would not have 
taken place in that time. It 1s fortunate 
for the public, that not 6ne dog in 
twenty, reputed mad, is'really fo; and it 
is wholly from this circumftance, that re- 
medies have obtained celebrity as fpe- 
cifics im the cure of this difeafe; for itis a 
truth known ‘to every profelional man, 
who is acquainted with the euinal ceco- 
nomy, that tlrere is not in the whole 
Materia Medica a medicine, however 
active im its nature, capable of pre- 
venting the abforption, or Sune the 
progrets of the poifon when abforbed., 
This 1s an important fact, and ought moft 
carefully to be attended to. Half drown- 
ing in the marine flood, is a means of 
torture but not of cure. 
The only cafe of the difeafe in quef- 
tion, I have ever witnefféd, was in a fith- 
erman’s fon at Wandtyorth, abaut eigh- 
teen years ago. This lad was taken to the: 
fea and immerfed, until he was nearly in 
a flate of infenfibility, when he was con- 
fidered fecure from danger; but the fallacy 
of this remedy was fatally evinced in this 
safe, as he afterwards became the fubject 
of the difeafe, and died in confequence, 
Had his friends been aware of the in- 
portant fact above tiated, and, inftead 
of trutting to the effect of an incerta 
remedy, reforted to-the only means of 
prefervation, (the entire removal of the 
part bitten,) a valuable member might 
not only have been preferved to focicty, 
but a child reftored to his afflicted pa- 
rents, to comfort and prote¢t them in 
_tneir declining years. In this, as in 
every other dangerous difeafe, where 
early attention is neceflary in order to 
avert the fatal confequences that may 
enfue, empirical remedies are calculated 
to produce the moft extentive mifchiefs, 
as they lull the patient into a deceit: 
ful calm, while the ftorm is gathering to 
overwhelm him ; and it cannot but be a 
matter of regret to every liberal and 
thinking mind, that perfons are fuffered 
thus to trifle with the purfe and health 
of the community, it being a very com- 
mon thing to fee a lilt of medical trafh 
advertifed by the noftrum-moungers of this 
town, as fo many fpecifics im the cure of 
incurable difeafes, fuch as cancer, con- 
fumption of the lungs, ftone, and cravel, 
and many others equally out of the reach 
Monrury Mac., No. 154. 
Erroneous Accounts relative_te Hydrophobia. 
M5 
of medicine. Many of thefe perfons have 
obtained a licence to practife from, fome 
Univerfity, where doctorial dignities are 
retailed with the fame facility as the 
noftrums thus fanétioned, to the equal- 
difgrace of the title, and the Univ erlity 
frou which it was obtained. Is it rea-’, 
fonable to fuppofe that a perfon ignorant. 
of the iruéture of a machine thould be 
able to repair its injuries when deranged } ? 
Certainly not. How then, HM would b eg 
leave to afk,) are thefe persons, (many of. 
whom are entirely ignorant. of anatomy, 
the bafis ofall medical {cience, and with-.. 
out a knowledge gf which the healing art 
is calculated to become vather injurious, 
than beneficial to mankind,) to repair the 
injuries of the human machine, the mot. 
complicated {tructure in nature. Would 
the limits of your work permit, I could 
enlarge very much upon this fubject, and. 
poflibly at fome future period I ye 
fume it; for the prefent, I fhall conclude 
this article, by exhorting the public not 
to fufter popular prejudices to hurry them 
into a falfe belief in dangers, which exif. 
only in imagination, or to acts of cruelty 
towards a race of animals, whofe fervices . 
and faithful attachment to mankind de- 
ferve to be regarded as firone claims 
upon our humanity. Your’s, &c. 
Finfbury Difpenfary, M. Bart ETT,, 
February 14, 1807. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
STR, 
Pees the letter of your corre- 
fpondent, M. B. from Exeter, in 
your Magazine, refpecting the infects on 
ea -trees, I trouble you witha tigers. 
ful attempt Lhave made to pecans their 
propagation. 
I hada valuable apple-tree, every way 
affected as he has deferibed. Ichofe a 
dry time, with a clear warm funfhine, © 
and the noon of the day, for the ope- 
ration. 
I ordered my man to bring ahard thoe- 
bruth, and apply it to every infeéted limb, 
and treat them juft- as he would wid 
coach harnefs to vet off the dirt, &c. This 
being done, he tetched his tin-box, oil 
and bruih, and gave the limbs a good 
dretfing ; leaving them expofed to the 
fun, tor the limbs to inhale.the efficacy of 
the application; and this was repeated 
occationally during the fummer, with 
moderation and fuccefs, chufing always a 
dry time, and warm clear funihine, 
Your's, &c, 
Clapton, D, De Berru. 
- fv 
