Page:The Hog.djvu/115

113 the bite of rabid dogs, and Hübner relates a case of inoculation from the bite of a rabid fox. The symptoms of rabies in the hog are peculiarly interesting at times from the resemblance many of them bear to those of the human being. At first there is dullness and indisposition, and the pig is continually licking the bitten part. Subsequently some are exceedingly ferocious, snapping at every body, gnawing every thing which comes in their way, dashing themselves against walls, or leaping over all obstacles. Others, again, are dull, stupid, refuse their food, stagger when they attempt to rise, and are paralyzed in the hinder parts. There is no absolute dread of water, but evident inability to drink. An animal that we saw went to the trough, smelt at the food, and brought his nose nearly in contact with it, then started back, trembled violently, and elevated his snout high in the air. Once or twice he attempted to take portions of meat or vegetable from the wash, but the attempt was always accompanied or followed by universal rigor and shuddering, during which the food was dropped from the mouth, evidently proving that the organs of deglutition were powerfully affected.

The animal is in a highly nervous state, and the sensibility of the skin is so excessive, that even if his mother licks him he screams with agony, and buries himself in the litter, uttering shrill squeaks on the approach of any one, or springs up into the air if he hears a loud noise, and falls down again in convulsions. There is in general no great secretion of saliva in these animals, and the delirium which characterizes rabies in the dog is rarely seen, or when met with is less evident and distinctive.

And yet this disease has been but little studied in pigs. Mr. Pritchard, V. S., of Wolverhampton, gives the following interesting account of some cases he met with:—

"A rabid dog entered the farm-yard of Mr. George Strongitharm of Calderfield, near Walsall, on the 27th of December, 1835, and attacked some pigs, which making a considerable noise, aroused Mr. S. and his servants from their beds, and they proceeded with their guns already loaded, discovered him, and succeeded in destroying him. Two of the pigs had evidently received wounds in their noses from the dog, which soon got well, no curative or preventive measures being had recourse to, and without much irritation or swelling taking place. After a fortnight had elapsed, nothing outward being observable in them, they were again turned into the yard to their old companions.

"A day or two after, on the entrails of a sheep being thrown to the pigs, all came and partook of it except the two that had been bitten. One of these was found dead in the litter, with a quantity of froth and slaver about his mouth; the other, in coming out of his bed into the air, immediately jumped up on all four legs like the bound of a deer, a yard at least from the ground, and threw from