Year: 1859

dering upon starvation, it never yet took
place. Neither has repletion ever occa-
stoned it, although il has proved the
parent of many other infammatory affec- |
tions. Putrid food has been fully proved
to have no title to generating il; would
it, a priOri, be likely to produce it in pre-
datory animals, whose stomachs must, by
nature, be forced to subsist on matter in
various stages of decomposition.


Mr.. Blame continues to discuss this point
at some length. learnedly and curiously
no doubt, as the cogent question, also,
whether the disease arose spontaneously
at first in the dog, wolf, fox or jackal
but these questions, however curious or
interesting, become merely matters of in
vestigation and Hypothetical enquiry for
critics, being set at rest for all purposes
of practical utility by the positive dictum
that the case is nOW-even IN the dog
never spontaneously generated, The
remarks concerning food, drink, climate,
&C., | admitted here, not on their own
account so much, as in corroboration of
that dictum. All quadrupeds may be at
tackled by it, and may convey the contagion
toothers, although the probability of doing
SO is of course diminished by the natural
predisposition of the animal to bite, or
the reverse.


Again, it appears to be certain, that
the virus or communicating medium rad
iates in the saliva only-that the flesh, the
blood and the milk are innocent, whether
injected or taken inwardly-and lastly.
that the virus can be communicated
through wound or abrasion of the outer
skin and not otherwise-although it is
barely possible it may be received through
the mucus membrane of the lips, eyelids
or nostrils.


MEDICAL TREATMENT.


Take fresh leaves of the tree-box 2 OF.


" rue 2 OF.


I" of sage 1-2oz.


Chop these finely, and, after boiling
them IN a pint of water to half pint,
strain and press out the liquor. Beat
them in a mortar, or otherwise bruise
them thoroughly, and boil them again, in
pint of new milk, to half pint, which
press out as before. After this, mix both
the boiled liquors, which will make three
doses for human subject. Double this
quantity will form three doses for horse
or COW; two-thirds of it is sufficient for a
large dog, calf, sheep or hog; half of the
quantity is required for middle-sized
dog; and one-third for a small one
These three doses are said to be sufficient,
and one of them is directed to be given
every morning fasting. Both human and
brute subjects are treated in the same
manner, according to the proportions
specified ......


Provided that the wound wounded part
or parts are completely destroyed, the
patient will, to a demonstration, be rem
dered as secure as though never bitten,
which is a most consolatory circumstance
in the consideration of this most dire
disease.


am as confident on the subject as a
very long experience and close observa-
ton of innumerable cases can make me,
that not only in the destruction of the
bitten part a certain preventive, but that
such removal of it is as effectual at any
time previous to the symptoms appearing
as rt the first moment after the bite.


Of the methods resorted to for the ex-
tirpation of the bitten parts, the actual
cautery, the potential cautery and excelsior,
are employed, and have each of them
their advocates.


Having thus reached the close Of the
practical detail shall finish this impor-
tant subject by offering few remarks,
calculated, l would hope, to ease the minds
of many individuals on some material
points which are apt to occasion much un-
necessary dread, and much false alarm.
| would first notice, that by very dis
torted view of the risk incurred by asso-
ciating with him, the dog, at once our
faithful friend, gallant protector, and use
full servant, is in danger of being pro-
scribed altogether.


l should entertain no fear whatever
were confined altogether day and night
in the same room with half dozen dogs,
all duly inoCulated with rabid virus. Ii
ought likewise, in no small degree, to
lessen the dread and fear of this malady,
even when the worst has happened. and
human person has been unfortunately
bitten by rabid animal, that ready
simple and eficacious remedy is still al
hand, the application of which is attended
with little inconvenience, while the con.
sequences are certainly productive of al
the safety that can be wished for. Or
this immediate part of the subject, how
ever, am we'll aware that intense menta.
dread is often excited. / have been bitter
several times; Mr.. Youatt several also
yet in neither of US was any dread occa
stoned. Our experience taught US the
absolute certainly of the preventive means
: and such l take on me to pronounce they
always prove, when performed with dex
terity and judgment.


RattleSnakes and Whisky.