Reports on the outbreak of rabies among deer in Richmond Park during the years 1886-7 / by A.C. Cope and Victor Horsley ; presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty.

  • Cope, Alexander C.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports on the outbreak of rabies among deer in Richmond Park during the years 1886-7 / by A.C. Cope and Victor Horsley ; presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. 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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    DOG No. 1.—Small, young adult, black and tan terrier Inoculated by trephining on 26th May 1887. It remained perfectly well until the 7th June 1887, i.e., 11 days' incubation, when it was noticed to be very excitable and restless, jumping up to the top of its cage, snapping at everything, and eating the straw of its bed. It furiously attacked two dogs in the same cage after quietly but energetically licking them, they being evidently alarmed at it. The Dog No. 1 was much exhausted after these combats, but its viciousness was increased. Its bark, already hoarse, soon developed the well known falsetto termination. The disease then ran its usual course during the succeeding four days, the dog remaining savage to within the last two days, when paralysis of the hind legs set in, and death by coma followed Post-mortem Examination (about 8 hours after death). Rigor mortis well marked. No organ presented any marked change, save the following:— Respiratory Syste m. Larynx.—Moderately congested. Trachae.—Ditto. Lungs.—Greatly congested, being of a dark red colour. Alimentary Canal. Tongue.—Dry. Pharynx.—Slightly congested. Stomach.—Well marked capilliary congestion of the mucous membrane. Contents.—Watery mucus, coffee ground material (evidently blood), and a quantity of hay. The evidence was thus rendered quite conclusive as to the real nature of the malady from which the deer were suffering. Experiment with the Foetus of Deer No. 3. The question whether the virus of an acute specific disease can pass through the placenta from the maternal to the foetal oircula tion is yet so indeterminate and yet so important that any obser- vation on the point, negative though it may be, is worth recording. On laying open the uterus of Deer No. 3, there was found a healthy foetus about 2 feet long quite dead, but its decease evidently had only occurred on that of the mother. On dissection nothing was observable in the organs, but the spinal cord being removed a small portion was crushed in bouillon, and inoculation practised therewith on two rabbits. Nos. 7 and 8 on 2nd June 1887. Experiments 3rd June 1887.— One rabbit No. 7, unfortunately died of 8 and 9 on septicaemia 26th November 1887. The other rabbit, No. 8, lived Eabbits7and8'