Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/300

270&#93; 2?o] BIT This virulent disorder does not, in general, manifest itself till a considerable time after the bite ; for, though in some instances it has commenced in seven or eight days after the accident, the patient often continued in health for twen- ty, thirty, or forty days, nay, some- times for several months. Il the wound be not prevented, it will, in most instances, be healed long before the symptoms of the disease appear; though it frequently resists all healing applications, and forms an ulcer discharging a quantity of matter. The approach of the dis- ease is known by the cicatrix of the wound becoming hard and ele- vated, and by a peculiar tingling sensation in the part affected ; pains shoot from it towards the throat : in .some cases it is sur- rounded with livid or red streaks, and seems to be in a state of inflammation ; more frequently, however, no remarkable external change can be perceived. But trie patient soon becomes melancholy, prefers solitude, and is troubled with nausea. Sometimes the cha- racteristic symptom of the disease, the dread of water, suddenly at- tack the patient, and every at- tempt to swallow liquids, .is ac- companied with the most painful sensations. This appears to be a circumstance peculiar to the hu- man race ; for mad animals do not evince any dread of water. There is not the least doubt, that the disease is occasioned by the saliva of the mad creature being mixed with the human blood. I fn- less, therefore, part of the. true skiii be injured, the poison will not be communicated: but, in the con- trary case, the smallest quantity is sufficient to produce the fatal effect.. Hence, if the cuticle has been BIT wounded, it is absolutely n?ces» sary to remove the surrounding muscular substance by the knife, and to lose no time in submitting to this operation : as it is the only certain and effectual preventive. It is, however, of consequence previ- ously to be convinced, whether the animal has been actually mad; though it is affirmed by creditable writers, tiiat the bite of creatures which were neither diseased nor raving, nay even the bite of healthy dogs, has been productive of hydro- phobia. Others have maintained, that the very breath of a mad dog, as well as the blood of a hydropho- bous patient touched by a sound person, have been attended with a similar effect.. In order to ascertain whether a dog is really infec-ted with that dis- temper, the following particulars deserve attention. Several days previously to the invasion of the disorder, the animal becomes sullen, and shews equal indifference to his master, his food, and drink. His ears and tail droop ; instead of bark- ing, he growls and snaps at every surrounding object, runs about ir- regularly^, is no longer able to dis- tinguish his master from strangers, and lolls out his tongue, which is parched, and of a livid hue. At length, he drops down suddenly, starts up again, bites whatever seems to obstruct his passage, and in this condition he seldom survives twenty-four or, at the farthest, forty-eight hours. Persons bitten during the last period of the disordered animal, are in the greatest danger from the contagious nature of the saliva: If I sease has actually been com- municated, the pulse indicates spasms, but it is not always fe- verish j the patient generally feels a burning