Hydrophobia in dogs and other animals : and the sanitary precautions against its transmission to the human race.

  • Russel, Charles P.
Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydrophobia in dogs and other animals : and the sanitary precautions against its transmission to the human race. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    similar appearances are to be found in rabid dogs and other animals. In 1822, Magistel, a French doctor, was said to have, confirmed the existence of these pustules in several cases coming under his observa- tion ; but notwithstanding the treatment recommended and applied, five out of ten persons bitten by one dog were seized with the malady and died ; and, in a word, the theory was soon exploded. The truth is, as Watson observes, that the mucous follicles of the mouth, and those at the base of and particularly beneath the tongue, are commonly exaggerated in both men and dogs laboring under the disease— and these enlarged follicles were regarded by Marochetti and Mag- istel as a specific eruption furnishing the virus and pabulum of this complaint. In 1819 rabies prevailed in Canada, whose Governor-General, the Duke of Richmond, fell a victim to it, having been bitten by a captive fox. In 1820, as Blaine informs us, rabies canina was again rife in Eng- land, and continued alarmingly prevalent for a number of years. In 1822 it was common in Holland. In 1819 and 1829 Italy suffered from the disease ; and Brera mentions the circumstance of a wolf's having communicated it to nine persons out of thirteen whom it had bitten. The period between 1819 and '27 is particularly noticed by Wirth as remarkable for the prevalence of rabies among the foxes of Switzerland and Germany, and those animals infected large numbers of dogs, cats, horned cattle, horses, pigs, goats, and sheep. Notwith- standing their natural shyness, the mad foxes boldly faced and fol- lowed men and animals in order to attack them. In 1824, throughout many districts of Russia and extending thence into Sweden and Norway, the disease prevailed extensively among foxes, wolves, dogs, cats, and reindeer. In 1828 its human victims in England and Wales amounted to twenty-eight. In 1829, according to the Veterinary Pro- fessor Prinz, it was very destructive in Dresden. From 1823 to 1829, as Hertwig informs us, it was unusually common in Berlin, and, as Bohme states, in Saxony also. In 1830 the subject of hydrophobia had so alarmed the public mind in England that the House of Commons thought fit to appoint a select committee to investigate it. Evidence was furnished by many eminent physicians, surgeons, and veterinarians, among whom may be mentioned Sir Benj. Brodie, Mr. Benj. Travers, Mr. Morgan of Guy's Hospital, Mr. Earle of St. Bartholomew's, Prof. Coleman, and Mr. Wm. Youatt. Mr. Earle presented positive proof of the undue