'I. -•... .^n^'' '//.''- <;.' •;-■,. , . .. . • {•■»<' ?s.*'Jj^'j/V. .' -■•'-'. i .;"•'' ~ •.■■'•- t'-:fHm^:K ^;;-:":r'■"■•■ : ' ■••■ I'JU'-t^ ■■jfi.:>::',;-"-r, f^/:> <:.:■■-:V~ •''■■'. . . ' ' . ^f>^^t.:^-f;;^:vV,;,,.-", '■'-.'■■. ;-■ ' t:-V^>.''-■'-?■'>}'-^ ?''■■■■?■■'■■'' " :> ' •;'•■-. i-iij:--'-:-if vY ■ -;';v'-,i''.' '* ",-s*:;'•'"•. ■■' ■- ; ' .,:.' ■■ '*-M-.)t-•■{*■> :i\'t-r>.t^-'r- ■■.'•'. :. .J. -•.■•;■■•■.. *^^r/.;:;:.;;.;: ^fyf-,;':-r '< i;«\-$c■"■;/■;-•'• <■. v..: /•,..■ . ' • • SM.i>:^ jWiflffity':,* ">■ ^-r <.' '•'..'••"". y* '.■ ,' '■ »'^if:^',/^::" V:,;--' '' '• ■'■"■'.- :.--'"'' ^T^jX^^.i^•'-•■•■'■■ %:: ."■' '.: '' ;' ' ;^^.1;i !■•■•■,■' • AN ESSAY ON )!lWTMR(DIPIEi(DH j AN ESSA\ ON snra)iB®iPiK]®3Baii& OR CANINE MADNESS: ALSO, AN ESSAY OX DISTEMPER IX DOGS; POINTING OUT ITS CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, AND CURL, BOTH BY MEDICINE, AND INOCULATION OF THE COW POX, BY D. P. BLAINE, PROCESSOR OF INlSil MEDICINE, LONDON. Corrected and Revised, with Additions and Improvements, BY DR. JAMES CARVER, VETERINARY PHYSICIAX A\I) SURGEON' OF THIS CITY. 7?' PH1LADELPHI PUBLISHED BY JAMES Ci 1818. $?H c~>\ Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit ■ BE IT REMEMBERED, That, on the twenty-fourth day of Ju- ly, in the forty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1818, James Carver, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, ihe ri.^ht whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit: " An Essay on Hydrophobia, or Canine Madness: also, an Essay " on Distemper in Dogs; pointing out its Causes, Symptoms, " Treatment, and Cure, both by Medicine, and Inoculation of " the Cow-Pox. By D. P. Blaine, Professor of Animal Medi- " cine, London. Corrected and revised, with Additions and " Improvements, by Dr. James Carver, Veterinary Physician " and Surgeon of this City." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and propri- etors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned."—And also to the Act, entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, enti- tled ' An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned,' and extend- ing the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL, i'-V-vk of the. Eastern Distr*;t wf Pennsvlw'a. INTRODUCTION. Farriery, in an enlarged sense, (now usually called the Veterinary Art,) is the art of curing the diseases of the horse, and other domestic quadrupeds; and I am, perhaps, the first person in this country who has paid any attention to the diseases of dogs, on scientific princi- ples; and during my extensive practice, in no one year have I examined less than from 2 to 3000 sick dogs,; and when this undertaking is properly considered, it will be seen as little less than a Herculean task to have brought a knowledge of their numerous complaints to the perfection it has been. And wrhen it is considered that not a line has been written on the subject, that could give the least hint worth notice, the following will no doubt be viewed as a proof of industry and faithful attention to an important subject. Dogs are much more allied to us in constitution, than either horses, oxen, or sheep; hence their diseases are more like our own; and living as they do, with us, a life of art, their diseases not only become very numerous, but very mixed and irregular. This places their medical treatment within the reach of the common farrier, (and even the veterinarian.) Whoever follows analogy only, without a particular attention to structure, economy, liabits, and manners of the dog, will a2 VI INTRODUCTION. find himself totally at a loss in the same. Without a very strict, and very extended attention to the subject, no one would be aware how very numerous are the diseases oi these animals. Rheumatism, both chronic and acute, is very common among them. Pleurisy destroys many of them; and inflammation of the stomach, bowels, and kid- nies, are not unfrequent. They are also subject to con- < sumption, and the whole train of nervous affections: as apoplexy, lethargy, spasm, palsy, epilepsy, &c. Distemper, worms, and mange, are also too well known to need com- ment. Dogs, in sickness, must be attended to with the same care a child requires. Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well; and if dogs demand any attention, they must deserve good attention; and humanity demands that our utmost exertions should be bestowed to relieve them; and if in a state of health, they are allowed to come near the fire, to sleep warm, to be caressed, and to eat good food, in sickness they require still more; and when merely to avoid trouble, they are in this case con- fined in a cold room, out-house, or cellar, attended by a neglectful servant, who cares neither whether he lives or dies, without solace, and with cold food and water alone, neither can we expect their recovery, or answer our own minds their deaths. Dogs are very irritable; and though it may by some seem an affectation of tender- ness, it is yet a very necessary caution, that, when they are ill, their minds should be soothed by every means in INTRODUCTION. vii our power, or their complaint, in many instances, will be greatly aggravated. I have seen a sick dog fall into con- vulsions at the momentary sight of a dead one; and I have many times witnessed an angry word spoken to a healthy dog, have the above effect on a sick one who was near. Joy and surprise will produce the same. A dog under my care, who was rapidly recovering from a linger- ing sickness, was visited by a failhful servant, of whom the animal was particularly fond; on seeing this servant, he at once fell into convulsions, and never afterwards re- covered from them. So great are the gratitude and at- tachment of these failhful animals; and so feelingly alive are they to kindness, that even in death they are not un- mindful of their benefactors. Warmth is always con- genial to the feelings of dogs; but in sickness it is even more necessary than fresh air; and their diseases are very apt to end in convulsions, if they are not kept warm. Liberal feeding is also essentially necessary in most dis- eases of dogs. And when dogs are very weak, their stomachs cannot digest meat, even if they willingly eat it: but in these cases they receive more nourishment from broth, jelly, &c; but most all of them gruel; for broth often purges, but gruel never. They must also be en- ticed to eat, by the same little arts we use to persuade sick children to take nourishment; for they are, under all these circumstances, to the full, as fickle and as fanciful. A steak, or a piece of pork newly dressed, will sometimes, in these cases, entice them. Raw meat will also hav* Vlil INTRODUCTION. the same effect; and even game bones will often be taken by sporting dogs, when the greatest delicacies, and every thing else is refused. But when a dog obstinately refuses to eat, he must be forced; and the best food for this pur- pose is thick oatmeal gruel, poured down with a butter boat; and ale, or even wine, in some instances, as in putrid diseases; but wine must be given with caution, as it is apt to inflame the bowels. Cleanliness is also necessary, and very essential to the health and comfort of dogs, and in sickness is very re- freshing to them. Having been educated as a medical man, and by the liberality of my relations having been enabled to em- brace all the advantages that an attendance on numerous lectures and a considerable residence at one of the first hospitals in London, could afford; and having afterwards practised with some success as a surgeon, both privately and in the army, it greatly offended my relations, as well as surprised my friends and acquaintances, that I should stoop, as they considered it, to study and practise the diseases of animals; but, above all, my attention to the diseases of dogs has given offence to some, and occa- sional surprise to others. Till the establishment of the Veterinary College, and the practice of the veterinary art by men of education and respectability, Farriery was deemed a low and ser- vile pursuit; but at present, by a retrograde step towards enlarged reasoning, it has become ranked among the libe- INTRODUCTION. ix ral arts; for though its practice is of sufficient import- ance to ennoble its practitioners, it was not till the situa- tion, manners, and characters, of some of these practi- tioners had conferred a dignity on the subject itself, that that it was even creditable to seem to understand it. Precisely as farriery and veterinary medicine then was situated, a curative practice on the diseases of dogs now stands. A person practising on these animals has hi- therto been considered as following a mean, low, ser- vile pursuit; and the very term of dog doctor conveys an idea remote from gentility; but it is not the unworthiness of the pursuit, but the kind of persons who have hitherto followed it, that has made it so. I believe no one will dispute the value of dogs, and common humanity dictates the necessity of alleviating their distresses; and their faithful attachment to mankind claims not only the exer- tions of humanity, but the full efforts of our gratitude and affection. And though, in real utility, they are subordi- nate to the horse, they are, in many points, more essen- tial to our immediate comfort; and are certainly, by their domestic habits, connected to us by more winning ties, If then they are valuable, and if it is our duty to attend as well to their sick as their healthy moments, which it undoubtedly is, surely those who improve this branch of the healing art deserve attention and jespect, and not re- probation. But, in the first instance, it must in this, as in farriery, be the respectability of the practitioner that must rescue the pursuit from ignominy, and afterwards, a? X INTRODUCTION. the ideas of mankind become more liberal and extended, and the public eye opens on the utility and necessity of the subject, the art will then not only bear itself up, but even add respectability to its practitioners. In every country, the practice of medicine, in all its branches, has been esteemed a liberal and noble pursuit; and it has always been deemed necessary, that its professors should possess refined manners and extensive education; and attention to these improvements of the healing art has given rise to the various medical occupations of Physician, Surgeon, Apothecary, Midwife, Vetennarian, &c. Animals are healed by the same means as ourselves; and hence their treatment is only a branch of the healing art; and though, for the above reasons, this branch is usually pursued alone, yet it is equally a part of a great and noble whole, which, as its attainment must be accomplished by the same means, so it should be pursued by similar persons, namely, those of education and refinement. If, therefore, dogs, as being faithful, deserve our gra- titude; if, as being generous and brave, they merit our protection; and if, as being useful, they call for our ut- most care; it is evident, that, whatever developes the means of preserving them in health, and curing their dis- eases; whatever tends to improve their condition, and make them more subservient to our use, must be a useful and noble pursuit; for it has for its object (that which only truly ennobles^ any one) universal philanthropy and general utility. INTRODUCTION. XI I have, from my attention to this subject, been taxed with a want of common and proper pride. I believe it might not be difficult to prove, that this very pride would be a sufficient motive, independent of a strong affection for the animal in question, to stimulate some persons to the pursuit; for in human medicine there are so many in- genious practitioners, that there is little chance of rising to superior eminence; but the diseases of horses and dogs offer an unbeaten track; and here the practitioner may safe- ly start alone and unrivalled, and for some time at least, is likely to reap his honours and emoluments undisturbed. But as for myself, I must confess, that I think it more sa- tisfactory to stand first, even in a subordinate pursuit, than unnoticed in a superior one.* I shall now conclude, by saying, that while I remain in practice, I hope the fore- going pages will do all that is principally requisite to- wards meliorating the condition of animals that Provi- dence has most peculiarly placed under our protection. D. BLAINE. * What a field of reflection is here for the young student, and others, if they could only divest themselves of that foolish sort of pride, as would persuade themselves to think it as honourable to study animal, as human medicine. xii INTRODUCTION. THE PROPER MODE OF ADMINISTERING MEDICINE TO DOGS. To distingush the diseases of dogs, and the proper mode of treating them, are not the only difficulties to be overcome; but how to administer the remedy, when the other is evident, is often a very serious difficulty. Now and then dogs prove very refractory, but in the greater number of cases, medicine may be easily given to them: to a large dog, not less than three persons are sometime^, requisite. In general cases, however, two persons can manage it readily in the following manner: Place the dog upright on his hind legs, between the knees of a seated person, with the dog's back towards the person; then ap- ply a napkin round his neck and shoulders behind, bring- ing it over his fore legs, and securing it by the knees of the person holding the dog; by this means his fore legs cannot act against the medicine. The jaws being now opened by the person between whose knees the dog is, a se- cond attendant holds the tongue down with one hand, and with the other places the medicine on the root of the tongue; when his mouth being closed, and being kept so by the hands, it is necessarily swallowed. Nutriment may be. given in a similar manner. D.B. AN ESSA\ ON CANINE MADNESS; ERRONEOUSLY CAXLED HYDROPHOBIA. This important article, the author of these pages is enabled to treat of with more perspicuity, perhaps, than it has ever yet been treated of in any other language, as he is bold to affirm, that he has seen more of it, and paid more attention to it, than any other person in the world. Within these last three years, upwards of three hundred cases have fell under his particular and attentive exami- nation; and nearly half that number have been carefully dissected by him. Many circumstances conspired to make the author particularly attentive to this subject: a prima- ry one was, the total ignorance that has hitherto prevail- ed on it. Except some remarks by Mr. Meynell, of sport- ing celebrity, which was given some years ago in the 19th vol. of the Medical Commentaries, nothing has ap- peared in print, in any language, worthy of notice; and it is evident, that however attentive Mr. Meynell might be, he must have had his scope of observation much con- fined; and that most likely to his own kennel, and to one A :) kind of do- only Nevertheless, at the time these ob- " ^J remarks appeared they were: value>e as being then the only account of the disease that at all ap preaches the truth. This gentleman consid*:0»e, loss of appetite as the first symptom of the complaint wh ch is materially erroneous; and which arose from he kind of dog he saw, and from his not being immediately do- mesticated with the animals attacked, so as to see the commencement of it. The first appearance of the dis- ease is to be dated, not from a loss of appetite, but irom a certain peculiarity in the dog's manner, some departure from his usual habits, and doing something, however trifling, that is uncommon. This complete ignorance of the nature and appearance of the complaint, and the many erroneous and most dangerous ideas that prevailed relative to it, gave the author a particular wish to be- come acquainted with it. This desire was also heighten- ed by a sympathy he felt for those fellow creatures who were rendered unhappy from apprehension and danger, he having, in 1807, been himself severely bitten by a dog unquestionably mad; and to this accident may be at- tributed, in a principal degree, in bringing forward the valuable preventative detailed at the end of this article; a discovery that, when it becomes properly appreciated, succeeding ages will hail. There, in fact, needs but one remark, to show how extremely ignorant the generality of persons are relative to the nature of this disease: which is, that the universally received distinguishing character- istic of the disease should never exist; and that the ge- neral term also applied to the complaint, should be as in- applicable to it as it would be to the human small pox, or measles. The dread of water, it is evident, must be here meant; and the term hydrophobia, as characterising what never exists, it is equally clear must be a misnomer, and an error existing in general and vulgar prejudice. It is incalculable the mischief that this universal prejudice has produced: it has rendered thousands of unfortunate per- 3 sons miserable for months and years, and many others it has lulled into a fatal security. If a poor dog, from illness, or affection of any kind what- ever, is prevented from swallowing, he is immediately pronounced mad, and is unreluctantly destroyed, while horror pervades the mind of every one who has been within his reach. Nor is the unfortunate person who may have been bitten by this same dog, weeks or months before, exempt from the panic. For among the popular prejudices that prevail, is one, that if a dog becomes mad, any person who may have been formerly bitten by this dog, even though he was in perfect health, is in dan- ger of becoming mad. On the other hand, if a dog, un- der any compTaint, can drink, then he is pronounced free from all danger of madness; and so universal is this opi- nion, that an eminent physician, now very extensive in practice in London, who was consulted by a person bit- ten, immediately enquired whether the dog could drink; when on being informed he could, he peremptorily pro- nounced there was no danger. The ignorance of pedantry is always the most to be dreaded; but as much as a person wishes his opinion to have weight, so much the more necessary is it for him rightly to inform himself on all matters that are likely to come within his cognisance; the omission of which re- duces him to a mere empiric. This gentleman was guilty of apiece of presumption unworthy his situation; for he gave a most fatal and erroneous judgment; that had it been followed, might have caused the death of three per- sons; for when told that I had pronounced the dog mad, he made no hesitation in saying, that let my opinion be what it may, that provided the dog drank, he was not mad. Fortunately, his opinion was not attended to, and I dissected the wounded part out of three that was bitten by this dog. In five weeks, a dog bitten by this same ani- mal became mad also. So much for popular prejudice, and so much for pedantic, and professional ignorance. 4 It cannot be too strongly inculcated, that dogs labour- ing under the dreadful complaint of madness, never have the least distaste for water, or the slightest dread oi it; on the contrary, in almost every instance, they seek it with avidity, and lap it incessantly. Now and then there is some obstruction in the swallow, by which the water taken returns as fast as it is lapped. But this can never lead into error; because in all these instances the dog hangs over the water, continually lapping, though he swallows none. In no instance is there any thing like a dread of water discoverable, but, on the contrary, a vio- lent thirst induces them to take whatever drink comes in their way. How completely erroneous, therefore, must be the opinion formed of madness from the drinking or not drinking, is evident from this: and it is also as evi- dent, that the term Hydrophobia is completely absurd as applied to madness in dogs; and no more applicable to it, as before noticed, than it is to human measles or small- pox. Another very popular error prevails with regard to madness, and which error it is lamentable to see men of genius and information still propagating in some lately published works, whose elegance, and the reception they have met with, should not have rendered them the vehi- cle of such mere traditionary ignorance, that the slight- est acquaintance with the natural history of the animal would have\corrected. The error alluded to is, that the removing the worm under the dog's tongue, will prevent his becoming mad at any future time. Others do not go this length; but these are equally certain, that if he does go mad, he cannot bite when he is so. It is almost contemptible to combat so childish and ignorant an opi- nion; and nothing but its widely extended reception, and baleful influence, could make me consent gravely to re- fute so absurd a notion. There is, in the first place, no such thing as a worm, or any thing like one, under the tongue, or any part of the dog's mouth. Anatomists all o know that most pendulous parts attached to others, have a doubling of the skin to secure them, technically termed a fraenum, a sort of bridle. It is this duplicative of the skin that is cut by nurses under a child's tongue, to give it more liberty, in general very erroneously. It is this froznum that at ^once appears on opening a dog's mouth and lifting up his tongue, when from almost the point to the root of it is seen a skin that evidently was intended to confine it from passing back into the throat, which otherwise it might readily do in convulsions. This skin is doubled, and has besides an intervening thickening; and when this is ripped up, and taken out, this is called the worm; the elastic property of the skin making it recoil from the stretch it was put on in taking it away, is adduced as a proof that it is alive, and proves it a worm in the opinion of credulity. That there is no such a thing as a worm in the mouth, any person may easily convince himself of; and having convinced himself of this, it must be evident that the re- moval of a bit of skin, whose use is so apparent, can have no effect in preventing madness. In the new Cyclopaedia of Arts and Sciences, this er- ror has crept in, with several others, on the subject of dogs. It is to be lamented that the ingenious collator of the above work, had not placed his authorities opposite to each article, by which he would have avoided a very manifest injustice to some. Much matter on the subject of the diseases of dogs, was furnished by the author of this treatise, at the express request of Dr. Rees himself, and so much was contributed as to leave this subject as complete as the nature of circumstances would admit of; but not content with what long experience and attentive observation had made unquestionable, the collator mixes with these farrago of sportsmen, kennel keepers and grooms: and among other vulgar errors, is detailed the mode of extracting the worm from under the tongue, It maybe remarked as a proof of the literary liberality of b that work, that the articles which were furnished gratui tously, and had claim to originality, have no, acknowledg- ed author; while those which have been handed down by long tradition, have the names of their respective au- thors assigned them. A third very dangerous prejudice prevails relative to madness, which arises from the popular and more com- mon name of madness, which is almost as much a mis- nomer as the hydrophobia. From the term mad dog, per- sons naturally suppose that a dog, to be affected with the complaint, must necessarily be wild and furious, and in every written description of it so made out; but so far is this from being the case, that in hardly any one in- stance did I ever observe a total alienation of the mind, and in very few have the mental faculties been disturb- ed; on the contrary, they commonly know the voice of their master, and are ohedient to it, frequently to the last moment of their existence. Among the other erroneous prejudices that prevail re- lative to the disease, it is not one of the least hurtful, that it is universally supposed that other animals besides the dog, becoming rabid, can entail it. I believe that no ani- mal but the dog, and perhaps his prototypes, the fox and wolf, is capable of producing madness in others by bite. In no other animal is there any increase of saliva, or any disposition to bite, unless that happens to be its natural mode of attack; and in every other animal it deserves the name of madness infinitely more than it does in the dog; for even the peaceable innocent sheep becomes astonishingly ferocious in the malady. In the horse the sight is most terrific. I have seen one clear a six-stall stable of racks, mangers, standing posts, and every thing but the bare walls has been in one huge mass of ruins around him.* Even fowls are rendered vi- cious by it, With regard to the cat, so many instances * An instance of this kind I was an eye witness to, during my residence at the Veterinary College; and a more horrid sight I 7 are on record, that I would net lightly pronounce that this animal is capable of producing the disease; but I have never seen it reproduced by a cat, and from analogy I am disposed to doubt it, in spite of all that has been asserted relative to it. Another erroneous idea prevails, and which I shall probably find great difficulty in combating; but I am certain that dogs breed madness; that is, that no dog be- comes mad, from any cause whatever, but by his being bitten or inoculated by another dog. It is in vain that it is answered, How came the disease at first?—How came human small-pox, measles, or syphilis? They were at first generated, but are never now produced but by infec- tion. Out of the vast variety of cases I have met with, I never met with an instance that I could not trace it to having been exposed to danger, though I have often bad to search very closely to come at the truth; so willing are people often to deceive themselves. But it wiil be found an incontrovertible fact, that no dog ever has rabies but such as have been bitten: nor can any disease, or any pain or irritation, ever bring on the malady: and nothing short of the actual bite of another dog in the same state can produce it. It is also erro- neous to suppose lhat madness is more prevalent in sum- mer than in winter: as rabies depends wholly on inocu- lation, it is evident that the prevalence of it must be wholly accidental. Heat and drought have neither any effect in producing it: in some of the countries under the torrid zone, it is unknown. However, tradition and error may have im- planted the above errors in the minds of the public; but never beheld. The whole of this institution was kept under alarm for several hours; and even with all the assistance round the college, it was with the greatest difficulty he was secured and holibled: and it was reported that the same dog that was seen to bite this horse bit several others, in and round that neigh.. bourhood, all of which died in the same way, raving mad. 8 they will be found, on attentive experience and tion, to be wholly false, and that they lead to 1 elusions, and unnecessary fear and dread. DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE. I shall now proceed to describe the disease, such as it appears, under its immense varieties;—varieties which make it very difficult to decide upon it, in many in- stances, except to those much accustomed to it, and who have paid particular attention to the subject. I have already noticed that the disease commences with some peculiarity in the dog's manner, some depart- ure from his natural habits, or the introduction of new ones. In a great number of instances this peculiarity consists in a disposition to pick up straws, thread, and paper; it is particularly the case with smaller dogs who are living in the house. I have seen a dog clear a car- pet so perfectly, that not the smallest object of any kind has remained on it. Others, again, as the first symptoms, shew an eager disposition to lick the anus and privates of another dog. In one instance I foretold the disease, from the uncommon attachment of a pug puppy towards a kit- ten that he was continually licking, as well as the cold nose of a healthy pug that was with him; this puppy was like- wise attached to every thing cold, as the grate and fire irons. This is a very usual symptom. Some dogs will very early in the disease eat their own excrement: and lap- ping their own water is very commonly observed among them, and is so strong a mark of the disease, that it should always be looked for. Another very early symp- tom of madness in dogs, kept in the house, is an antipa- thy to cats: the very cats they have lived in friendship with, are very early in the complaint the object of their uneasy annoyance. The progress of this irritability is very often clear and 9 well marked. Cats are the first objects of their anger, whilst no dislike is manifested towards their own species. Next, however, dogs, particularly strangers, are attack- ed; but those they are accustomed to are still respected. As the disease advances, however, they do not spare those they are accustomed to; and last of all they attack the persons around them: but, except in a moment of irrita- bility, they seldom absolutely attack any human persons. In contradiction to this it may be said, how are per- sons bitten in the streets and roads by dogs passing ? when dogs leave their home, it seems they are impelled by some inward impulse, to go abroad to propagate the disease: this actually appears almost their immediate ob- ject; and it is instinctive, not a rational effort; the proof of which is, they pursue no other object. This being the case, they turn hastily, and snap at every thing that comes in their way; but even here they less willingly bite human persons than their own species; but in those who do take on this wandering disposition, there is seldom much mischief manifested in their disposition to- wards human persons. It must be remembered, in this, as in every other remark I offer on this subject, that I speak on the broad scale of extended experience. Solitary facts will occur as varieties, that are at yarn encewith many or most of these appearances; but these will be found correct in the aggregate. In kennels of hounds many of these remarks may not immediately ap- ply; because the disease is not observed in its very first commencement, and because if they escape they are im- mediately hunted with fury and vvildness; but if left to themselves the disease would put on very different ap- pLarancrs, and whoever is at pains to study the subject, will find these observations just. The irritability that causes rabid dogs to bite is very strong, but it is almost always devoid of wildness and fu- ry; it is more like the irritability and peevishness of a child; at least this is the case in the early stages of the 10 disease, in the latter stages there may be in some few in- stances some attenuation .of the mind, as Avell as great impatience. In the dogs that are domesticated, and liv. ing always about the owner, in the greater number of cases, the same gentleness, attachment and obedience, are observed during the first days of the disease that is common to them at other times: by degrees, however, they snap gently, or run at a person's foot, as though in play, and will not at this time bite, but will take the foot or hand in the mouth with a certain playful quickness' but it is peculiar that a stick held to a dog in this stage^ is sure to excite his anger, even from those he is most fond of, and he will seize and shake it with violence. This is a very common and almost invariable character in the complaint, and may almost be considered as one of the lew unerring criterions. But though there is no violence, and though the usual attachment is still strongly mani- fest, yet there is always a wonderful impatience of con- troul, and the animal is with difficulty frightened; though in some instances again, the meekness and obedience is observed to the last. This is by no means uncommon; and from the universal idea that prevails relative to mad dogs, it is very hard for some persons to bring themselves to conceive such a dog mad. I have very frequently seen a rabid dog throughout the whole of the complaint, and to the very last moment never evince one disposition to bite; but, on the contrary, has looked up to those about him with distress and apparent intreqty. The parched tongue has been eagerly carried over the hands and feet of those he has been fond of, and dogs in such cases have suffered themselves to be carried about with the same mildness as ever. Many scores of dogs have been brought to me, following quietly, persons through the streets, or carried under the arm, whose total disinclina- tion to do harm has never once given their owners the least suspicion of the real nature of the complaint. I the more strongly dwell on this circumstance, that I may open II the public mind, and do away the fatal mistake that ex* »ts in considering those dogs only as mad who are mis- chievously inclined. On the other hand, let not the re- marks lead any one into a fallacious fearlessness and secu- rity relative to the peacefulness of the temper in rabies, for it must be remembered, that it is not in every case that perfect mildness exists; and that though there is sel- dom that wildness and fury, the generality of persons ex- pect in madness, yet that there is in most cases a treach- erous disposition, that cannot be too much guarded against: for though dogs labouring under it may come when call- ed, wag their tail, and seem pleased with attention, yet it is very common for them on a sudden to turn and snap. This, when it happens to a dog that is at other times good tempered, ought to be considered as a very strength- ening help to a conviction, that he is affected with mad- ness. Amongst sportsmen there are described two varieties of the complaint, raging and dumb madness; but who- ever sees as much of the complaint as I have done, and watches it as attentively, will find that there is no real ground for such a distinction; at least, that the distinc- tion is not sufficiently defined to be depended on. We have proved that the wild raging kind is very un- common, unless a dog is hunted into it by pursuit and fear, and frequently on the other hand, when he has sufficient irritability to make him an object of danger, still he shall be dumb : and again, that frequently in those who have the general term of dumb madness applied to them, there are irritability, restlessness, and even continued howling. In fact, so immense are the varieties, that no two cases are alike ; nor is there one symptom that any complaint can put on, but what is to be seen in this most variable disease. The principal differences that can be fairly no- ticed, are what arise from the part that is more immedi- ately the seat of the complaint. When the disease exists u principally in the bowels, it produces an affection of the throat and neck; the tongue lolls out, and there appears a swelling and enlargement of all the parts about the mouth, and throat, and swallow; with greater heaviness, stupor, distress, and weakness of the hinder parts. On the contrary, when the lungs are the principal seat of the complaint, there is more quickness, irritability, and a disposition to rave, to bark, or howl, or tear. Whenever any noise is made by a dog that is mad, it ought to be particularly attended to, for it forms one of the most certain and infallible criterions that present themselves, except the certain peculiarity, and hardly excepting that, it is the most unerring guide that oc- curs. No dog that is mad ever barks with his natural hark ; his voice becomes changed, and his manner also. The bark a mad dog makes, is sometimes between a bark and a howl, consisting of something larger than the one, and shorter than the other; and is so totally unlike any thing besides, that when once heard and noticed, it can never be forgotten. It is so familiar to the ear of the writer of these pages, that he has heard it from one street, when he has been himself in another, and following the sound has apprised the owners of their danger. This hap- pened once particularly where the howl attracted his steps into a farrier's shop, when the master of it had been drenching the dog for a supposed stoppage in his bowels. His hands, which he had passed into the dog's mouth, were covered with scratches, the effect of his business, which, without my caution, would have remained unat- tended to, and probably have cost him his life, being so superabundantly inoculated with the poison. The noise made is more like the giving tongue of a heavy slow hound, and is commonly made with his head held up in the air. There is either great distress apparent in the counte- nance, or a quick anxious look; the eyes are always red, 13 and frequently the inflammation is such as to produce mat- ter; the sight in some instances becomes deceptive, and they snap at objects they fancy they perceive. Flies are eagerly watched by them, and snapped at with eagerness; and frequently, from the deceptive vision, they appear to see them, when in reality they do not. In many, I might say in most of them, there is a re- markable tendency to carry straw about in their mouths industriously appearing to make a bed; and when they are littered down with it, they are commonly observed scratching it under their bellies, as though anxious to ap- ply it to the belly. This will be found also a most un- erring criterion of the complaint. Whenever it has oc- curred, I have found the intestines after death very highly inflamed. Gnawing is almost invariably also:—boards chains, the vessel that holds their food or water are gnawed, and sometimes taken up and shaken with great violence. The attempts to escape form a very remarkable trait in the disease. Whenever the madness is not of the stu- pid kind, there is always a very great anxiety to escape, and which is not the effect of pain nor of delirium, but is a most peculiar disposition to propagate the disease sole- ly: for having rambled about, biting every animal that comes in his way, such a dog, if he is not worried or hunted, returns home in a few hours. This fact is not known in the country; for there a dog is soon discovered and is soon hunted; and if he is not soon overtaken, he is too frightened to return immediately, and he falls a sa- crifice in some other village or town."' The very hunting makes him more mad, or otherwise there would be sel- dom much ferocity; and it is but seldom but such a dog would return when he was tired. Having tired himself, unless molested, he returns home; and even if molested he will frequently, even then, though later, find his way back. I have often met with them in the street, trotting leisurely along, looking out for every dog that comes in B 11 their way. Sometimes they seek the communication by crossing the road, and turning out of their way; at others, they merely snap at those that fall in their line of inarch; but few dogs, howrever, escape that are within their reach. They seldom turn out of their way to bite human passengers; and when they do bite, it is not often a continued attack, but simply a snap, and they then pass on: much, however, must depend on the natural character and habit of the dog. In the early stages of the disease, when their activity is considerable, and they have shewn an anxious wish to escape, the desire of mis- chief is very strong, and they roam in every direction, seeking every living object, with an earnestness that is truly surprising. Under these circumstances, it must be evident that they are likely to be bitten by other dogs, or attacked by persons: and I have known numerous in- stances of their returning home half killed from the at- tacks they have met with. When this was the case, I have invariably found that the progress of the complain/ was in some degree arrested: these dogs have uniform!j been more calm for two or three succeeding days, so much as to deceive those around them, and give hopes of recovery. This is a very curious fact; but it is no less certain than curious. The constitution seems to have received a shock that is capable of diverting the morbid fever into another course. Soon, however, the deadly poison again resumes its vigour, and the wretched ani- mal sinks. Some rabid dogs have great affection of the mouth and throat; in some the mouth appears swollen, and in- capable of being shut; and the tongue is always in these cases black, particularly towards the point of it. Some- times it is quite dry and parched; at others it is very moist, and there is a quantity of saliva continually flow- ing from the jaws. In these cases there is also in gene- ral an affection of the throat, accompanied with a very peculiar deep choking kind of noise, issuing from the lu bottom of the throat apparently. There is also a consi- derable difficulty experienced in swallowing, but no con- vulsive affection or dread, as in hydrophobia. In some instances this affection of the throat exists without the mouth being affected, or the lower jaw dropping and be- coming paralyzed: but when the mouth is affected in this manner, the sufferings of the poor animal are extreme, for his thirst induces him to be continually lapping; but as the paralysis of the lower jaw prevents his retaining the liquid in his mouth, so it falls out as fast as taken in. There is seldom much mischievous tendency in the ani- mal when these affections of the mouth and throat are the principal symptoms; but it is not for the inability to bite, as is supposed, but because there is in general a to- tal absence of the disposition to do mischief, in this pe- culiar kind of the disease; on the contrary, I have seen many instances when the mildness of character has been most distressing to witness. The earnest imploring look for relief, the strong attachment manifested to those around, while the parched tongue licks the hands and feet of those who notice it, with more than usual gratitude to his benefactor; and this continues even to the very last moment of his life; in many cases, without one manifes- tation of any disposition to bite, or do the least harm. A very great number, indeed a majority, of those who are affected have obstinate costiveness, and which is a very general and well marked symptom. This costive- ness is found to be very obstinate; and when overcome it, yet does not appear to give relief. It appears to arise from the peculiar inflammation that exists in the bowels of most of them, and ii is to this source that it is so com- mon for them to appear paralyzed and weak in the loins. I have seen an affection of the bowels produce a ten- dency in a dog to sit constantly on bis rump, wholly up- right; and in others it has produced convulsive spasms, y not unlike St. Vitus's dance; and I have seen one side 16 wholly paralyzed, while the other has been quite unaf- fected; but an evident falling of the loins is a very com- mon accompaniment to the disease. There is also in every one of them marks of great oppres- sion on the head; for in the most furious, however watch- ful they may appear, they are every now and then closing their eyes, and the head drops as in dozing. The duration of the complaint is various in dogs ; few die sooner than the third day, and few survive longer than the seventh. The average number die on the fourth and fifth day. In other [animals the existence of the complaint is much about the same time. APPEARANCES ON DISSECTION. I shall now proceed to notice the appearances on dis- section. As strict attention to this subject will often be found to be of the utmost importance ; for very frequent- ly it is only after death that an animal is suspected of be- ing affected with madness, though he may have bitten several persons while living. Under these circumstances, it is evident, that it would be of the very first importance to be able, from attentive observation of the body after death, to pronounce with certainty whether the animal died mad or of some other disease. I shall now show, that this important point may readily be done ; and with me it is as easy to pronounce on the disease, from the internal appearances after death, as though I had watched it through its whole progress. Be- ginning with the head, it will be found, that in those who have exhibited much irritability, panting and disposition to mischief, there is always more or less increased vascu- rality of the brain ; but that the inflammation never exists in any degree sufficient to make it a very important mark. Where the mouth and throat have been affected, there is 17 also, on examination, some slight inflammation and swell- ing, but by no means are the appearances after death at all in proportion to the degree of affection that prevailed during life. It is to the lungs, the stomach, and the bow- els, that we must look for marks of specific affection after dcatlu Remarkable as it may appear among the numerous ob- servations by various authors on this peculiar complaint, none have gone so far as to notice the cause of it, or to mention the appearances after death, and which appear- ances, are first detailed in these pages, except what have appeared from the pen in the New Cyclopaedia of Dr. Rees. In human subjects that have died of hydrophobia, it is remarkable that hardly any alteration of the organs of the body is discoverable after death : while in the dog, in every instance, vast and decided marks of inflammation and gangrene are always present, either in the lungs, sto- mach, or bowels, but in these cases the inflammation of the lungs will be sufficient to characterise the disease; when, superadded to it, there exists the appearances we shall next describe. I believe there never was a mad dog, or a dog affected with what is known by the popular term madness, but who, from some characteristic and specific affection of the stomach and bowels, had a disposition to pick up and swallow substances that at other times he would refuse. This begins very early in the complaint, and continues sometimes all the way through it. Substances the most incongruous are taken in. Hay, straw, rope, stones^ cinders, in fact, every thing that can be swallowed, is ta- ken down, and are there retained during the following two or three days. More early in the complaint there is often sickness of the stomach, and which sometimes con- tinues, but still the appearances will be the same ; still invariably, on dissection, when the stomach is cut into, there will always appear a very large mass within it, 18 composed of substances unfit to be eaten. This, it «hould be carefully remembered, is a sign of the existence of the disease, subject to the fewest exceptions of any one that we have noticed: and whenever other circumstances have rendered the case doubtful, if there exists this appearance (which if it is madness there will be every probability oi,) that then it need be no longer considered as a mat- ter of doubt; for I have never witnessed any thing like a similar appearance in any other complaint. The whole of the under line of the stomach is generally very highly inflamed ; and often it is completely gangrenous. When there has been much stupor and dullness, and when the affection of the throat has been considerable, and the weakness and paralysis of the hinder extremities have been considerable, there is sure to be found much inflam- mation in the bowels. The mesentery is also very vas- cular, and charged with blood, and the diaphragm and li- ver have also some appearance of inflammation. But the lungs, stomach, and bowels, are so invariably affected, that I have not the least hesitation in considering what is called madness, (but what should be termed ra- bies,) as a specific inflammation of these organs, superad- ding the specific character of the complaint to the inflam- mation. It is to be remarked, that dogs having died of madness very soon become putrid ; but there is no peculiarity in the smell, nor do other dogs avoid the effluvia that arises from them. Neither do dogs avoid a mad dog when alive any more than they do any other dog, the dread that is supposed to be impressed on their minds, at the sight of a mad dog being merely imaginary. THE PREVENTATIVE. We shall now proceed to detail the preventive remedy that was hinted at in the beginning of this article. For 19 some years I had been informed that there lived a colla- ger near Watford, of the name of Webb, who dispensed what is commonly called a drink as a preventive of mad- ness ; and the many testimonies I had received relative to it, gave me reason to suppose that it possessed some preventive qualities ; but, till the year 1807, I had not embraced any opportunity of putting its qualities to the test of experiment. Towards the latter part of that year I was myself unfortunately bitten by a small terrier bitch belonging to Mr. Buxton, of Great Malborough Street, which had exhibited some peculiarity of manner for seve- ral days. She was taken from amidst her puppies, suck- ling them, and brought to my house in a servant's arms. As soon as she was set down, she seized my fin- ger, and immediately afterwards gave one of the signifi- cant howls before mentioned. Conscious of her state, I immediately directed the servant to take her home, and that I would send directions about her ; but I gave the servant no reason to suspect her situation, because she would have been too much alarmed, and because I was certain from my experience of the habits of dogs in this state, that she would not bite the servant; and the event proved it: she suffered herself to be taken up quietly, and as soon as taken home, went immediately to her puppies, and died in an hour afterwards. As soon as she left my house I immediately despatched my assistant to apprize the family of the nature of the case, and of the danger, and the necessity of the animal's being immedi- ately confined : he also mentioned the very serious acci- dent I had met with in being very deeply bitten by the dog in the hand, which they had already been informed of by the servant. I shall, I dare say, hardly gain belief, when I relate that no concern was expressed on the oc- casion, nor was there ever once afterwards the slightest enquiry made as to my fate. From a necessity of re- moving the parts to a considerable depth, it was uncer- 20 tain for a fortnight whether I should not lose my finger, and perhaps my hand, by mortification. Under one of the most serious and affecting accidents that could happen, it would hardly be believed that there could be found a family in respectable life, so totally de- void of any of the common principles of humanity, as never to express one regret, nor to make one enquiry af- ter the effects of an accident, that they themselves were the immediate, though the innocent cause of; but such was the fact; and, was it not so glaring, it never would have appeared here. Being myself endangered, my at- tention was awakened to the real value of any preventive remedy (if it could be proved really so,) against this dreadful malady, particularly in such cases where from the depth of the wound, its situation, or other circum- stances, the application of the knife, or actual cautery might not be advisable. To endeavour to ascertain the grounds on which the reputation of this remedy stood, I went to Watford, and prosecuted my enquiries with such success, that from one of the two brothers who had dis- pensed the medicine, I gained the original receipt, and which had been verified on oath before a magistrate. As rabies was then extremely common, I lost no time, but detailed the remedy, with all I had learnt relative to it, in the Medical Review of December, 1807, where the form of the original receipt, and mode of preparation, may be seen at full length. The following is the form under which I have prepared this remedy for my own use, and which, after a long course of experiment, I find the best. Take of the fresh leaves of the tree box . 2 oz. Of the fresh leaves of rue .....2 oz. Of sage...........^ oz. Chop these fine, and boil in a pint of water to half a pint, strain carefully, and press out the liquor firmly; beat the ingredients then in a mortar, and put them in a pint of 21 new milk, boil again to half a pint, strain as before, mix both the liquors, which forms three doses for a human subject. Double this quantity is proper for a horse or cow; two-thirds of the quantity is sufficient for a large dog, calf, sheep, or hog; half the quantity for a middling size dog, and one-third for a small dog. The quantity above directed makes three doses for a human person, which are given every morning fasting. Animals are treated in a similar manner, according to these propor- tions, as directed. In the human subject, I have never found it produce any effects whatever. The old receipt directs that it should be taken two or three hours before sunrise in the morning; which is not a bad plan; because it will be less likely to be brought up again, which so large and nauseous a dose might other- wise be. Neither in any animal, except the dog, have I ever witnessed any strong effect from the exhibition of this remedy; but in dogs I have frequently seen it pro- duce considerable affection; and in two or three it proved fatal; but, as I conceive that it should shew its effects on the constitution to be certain, and as at the same time it is prudent to guard against the effects being too violent, so our plan is to begin with small doses, and go on in- creasing it every morning, till it shows its effects by sick- ness at the stomach, panting, and evident uneasiness. I have given this remedy in one hundred and thirty-five cases, thirty-five of which were human persons, eight were horses, a few sheep and hogs, and the rest were dogs; but the whole had been unquestionably bitten by dogs actually mad. Out of this number, three cases only of failure have occurred; but candour obliges me to own that these were palpable and fair cases; for the medicine was given with every caution. I«i the two cases of fail- ure in dogs, both were bitten in the head; and from what I have seen, I am disposed to believe that the disease more certainly takes place, and in less time, in those that are bitten in the head than elsewhere. The horse was 22 also bitten in the lip, as well as in other parts; but time must show how far this opinion is well founded. Out of the forty-five human persons who tried this remedy, I be- lieve not more than seven of them trusted to its preventive powers alone: in all the rest I have applied either the cautery or the knife, to the complete extirpation of the parts bitten; and in those who trusted solely to it, it was by their own express desire, and their dread of the other, and more established means of relief; for I am free to confess, that I think this remedy ought to be much more certainly established in its reputation, before any human being should be allowed to trust to it alone. It may not be improper to remark, that the reputation, and the proofs of efficacy of this preventive, can only be established on animals; for the disease in them is much more certain of following the inoculation, than it is in the human subject. Out often dogs bitten, I believe not more than two on an average escape; but of the same number in the human subject bitten, perhaps not so many as two would become hydrophobious. It will not, perhaps, be considered as wholly irrevelent to my subject, to introduce some other remarks, the effects of^ an extensive experience on this subject, with regard to mankind, and the result of a very particular attention paid to it. Various circumstances have conspired to throw into my way a much greater number of persons who have been bitten, than has fell to the lot of the most eminent surgeon in London. I have operated upon nearly fifty persons, every one of whom are now perfectly well. The knowledge of the attention I had paid to the sub- ject drew me also the communication of many of the fa- culty; but it is chiefly from my own observations, and many of them new; ot!-:rs not novel, yet hitherto want- ing the sanction of experience to confirm them, and be- ing but little known. I have collected all the facts, either written or oral, that a most sedulous and diligent inquiry enabled me to do. I have waded through every thing 23 written on the subject in every language; and, more than all, I have brought all to the test of actual experiment. I am not therefore in the least dread of committing my- self, when I offer a very consolatory fact to those who have been unfortunate enough to be bitten; which is, that it is of no consequence that the excision of the part should be immediately effected; on the contrary, I be- lieve (and indeed am as certain of it as I can be of such a matter) that the operation may be as safely performed at any time previous to the secondary inflammation of the part bitten, as it would be in the first moment after the accident. Nevertheless as it is always uncertain at what time the secondary inflammation may take place, so it is always prudent to perform it as soon as convenient; but it is a matter of immense moment to the peace of the un- fortunate to know, that when any accidental cause has operated to delay the operation, it may be as safely done at the end of one, two, or three weeks as at the first. I have frequently performed the operation many days after the ori- ginal wound has been perfectly healed up, and it has been with perfect success. Nor is there an authenticated in- stance to the contrary on record. It becomes a matter of the highest importance that this should be universally known, as the contrary is the opinion of many medical men, and almost the universal opinion among the public. To reason upon it physiologically, it would seem rea- sonable to conclude, that the virus is immediately absorb- ed, and hence that it must become active. Cullen, and some others, who maintain a similar opinion as to the safety of delaying the operation, did not suppose that the virus was immediately absorbed, and that therefore it was to this source that the safety of the parties was to be at- tributed when the operation was delayed; but it is hardly reconcilable to any known fact, that a wound shall heal with a foreign and malignant virus within it. Oh the contrary, I am of opinion firmly, that the poisonous mat- ter from the dog is absorbed nearly as soon as received, 24 and that it is taken into the constitution with the other absorbed fluids. Here it remains dormant until called into action by some external or internal agents to us yet unknown; but I am of opinion, that before it can pro- duce any of its effects, it must raise a secondary inflam- mation in the original bitten part, and that, without this inflammation takes place, no mischief can ever ensue; consequently, when the original bitten part has been re- moved either by caustic or by the knife, no secondary in- flammation can take place; for it is only in the imme- diate point where the tooth comes in contact that there is a painful sensation felt, in those unfortunate cases where infection has followed the wound. I am aware that I shall lay myself open to much animadversion, and to much criticism, in thus hazarding so boldly these remarks; but, whatever may be the critiques on the theory, the facts cannot, I am persuaded, be disputed; and the establish- ment of them is my principal aim. I am now too old an author, and too hacknied in the warfare of letters, to be frightened at the shafts of pedantic and oftentimes envious satirists; though the opinion of the better informed and liberal I ever hold in the highest reverence and estima- tion. With regard to the efficacy of the removal of the bitten part, I hope I need not here enlarge on it; it is now fully established, and it may in every instance be done with safety and without much pain. It is seldom that these bites are very deep or extensive; and, when they are, a skilful surgeon can commonly reach them all with DOT i»4--TT DELABERE BLAINE. AN ESSA.Y ON CANINE PATHOLOGY ; Erroneously called the Distemper of Dogs, but which is now properly ascertained to be A SPECIFIC CATARRHAL AFFECTION OF THE WINDPIPE, THE LUNGS, THE GULLET, THE STOMACH, AND BOWELS. The complaint among dogs, universally known by the name of the Distemper, is so troublesome in its symp- toms, and fatal in its effects, that it becomes highly wor- thy the investigation of the medical world in general, and of the veterinarian in particular. It is not the immedi- ate purpose of this little treatise to enter into a long theo- retical investigation of its probable remote and proximate causes, but, glancing only at these, to give a clear ac- count of its symptoms and appearances, with a circum- stantial enumeration of facts, tending to make known c 2b the only remedy that has been given with any great suc- cess. This disease is peculiar to dogs (perhaps to the whole genus), and is universally known by this name. Its fa- tality and obstinacy are very generally complained of; and yet no one among the enlightened few who have written on the diseases of animals, has ventured to treat of it scientifically; nor am I aware of any one, but my- self, who has conducted any regular course of experiments upon it. Mr. Taplin has, at the end of his Stable Directory, devoted a few pages to an account of his treatment of two or three dogs of his own; from which account, one would be led to suppose that Mr. Taplin considered costiveness as the sole cause of Distemper, as well as its predominat- ing symptom; unmindful of the specific affection of the head. The general want of information that prevails with re- gard to this disease, has made the treatment vary with al- most every person who has seen it; and numerous are the remedies recommended from one sportsman to another, whose failures are almost as certain as their exhibition. Many trust wholly to a seton, or green, in the neck; others depend principally on purges, while turpith mine- ral, James's powder, emetic tartar, or salt, are with others deemed the best remedies: and though, in some cases, either or all of these may prove serviceable, yet no great dependance is to be placed on any of them; nor, till the medicine I am about to recommend was discovered, has anyone mode been found to predominate in benefit over another.* * I have hardly ever met with any person who professed a par- tiality fpr dogs, or who kept them in any numbers, but who pos- sessed some recipe or nostrum for the cure of Distemper; or hav- ing seen a few cases recover (probably by Nature) under some particular plan: this same plan has immediately become with them 27 Dogs of every description seem liable to the Distem- per; and this tendency takes place, usually, between the ages of four and twelve months. It may, in a few instan- ces (as, in the smaller kind of dogs), appear sooner, and is sometimes prolonged later. It arises in some cases, without any apparent cause, but the existing pre-disposi- tion, called forth into immediate action by some agent un- known to us; that is, it appears to be generated within the animal: in other instances it is occasioned by infec- tion, from immediate contact with a diseased dog, or per- haps imbibed through the medium of the air. It is like- wise very frequently brought on by any sudden or unusu- al exposure to cold; and this is so very common a cause of it, that I never see a case of Distemper that I do not immediately enquire if the dog has not been lately wash- ed; thrown into the water; or suffered to sleep in the open air: and I am generally answered in the affirma- tive. But it does not follow, that every healthy dog in contact with a distempered one shall take the disease; on the contrary, it is sometimes escaped at that time: but such is the constitutional pre-disposition, that few young dogs escape it altogether. A distempered dog may, and frequently does, suffer a relapse after a considerable in- terval, even of some weeks of apparent health; but it is seldom an instance occurs of two perfectly distinct at- tacks on the same animal; though, now and then, it cer- tainly does happen. I was some time since consulted about a dog, who undoubtedly then laboured under the disease, and who was said by his owner, to have had an absolute specific; and I have been very frequently amused by gentlemen telling me, of themselves, or their acquaintance, pos- sessing an infallible cure for the Distemper: but it so happened, that I have commonly had it in my power to make enquiry, at some future period, relative to the fate of this infallible remedy; when, in every instance, 1 have heard that the faith was lessened, and the charm destroyed. 28 twice before, in common with other dogs living in the house, exactly the same complaint; once in Madras, and the second time at the Cape of Good Hope. Like small- pox, however, in general, it can only be suffered one;; the constitutional pre-disposition and liability being lost in the first attack. It was some time before I met with an instance of an old dog labouring under Distemper; but I have lately had frequent opportunities of witnessing that they are not exempt from it, when they have escaped it while young. The Distemper bears but little similarity to any other diseases of the brute creation, and is, in every respect, a disease sui generis, and peculiar to this kind of animal. Whether the other members of this genus, as wolves, foxes, &c, are liable to it, I believe is not known; but, from analogy, it is more than probable they are. The rabies canini arises from constitutional liability, without morbid contact, equally throughout this genus, and this alone: hence, though by no means certain, it is not un- likely they may equally participate in this disease; but no actual proof, I believe, exists of it. One fact ought to be mentioned, in contradiction to this, which is, that cats are sometimes affected with a disease very similar to Distemper; and I have thought, in some instances, I could trace it to contagion from an affected dog. In some years this distemper rages with great violence. A few years ago it ravaged all Europe, destroying two-thirds of all the cats existing. It is likewise as certain, that the Distemper Powder is equally a specific for this com- plaint in them as it is for the Distemper among dogs. From the united testimonies, of old sportsmen, and from the silence of authors on the subject, there is eve- ry reason to believe that the present great prevalence of this disease is of recent date, and that it was formerly little if at all known; it is likewise a very common obser- vation, that, since it has raged so universally, canine mad 29 ness has been much less frequent. Many diseases among ourselves, that now rage with epidemic violence, were little known formerly; while others, that were the scourge of the ancients, are nearly unknown to the mo- derns. The Distemper appears universally diffused over eve- ry country which the dog inhabits, and produces in all nearly similar appearances, but proving more fatal in some than in others: and, in every country, those dogs who are most artificially managed have the disease with the greatest violence. Malta is famous for a small breed of long-haired dogs, called the Maltese: these fetch high prices even in Malta; but so fatal is the Distemper to them, that a dog, having passed it, rises two or three hun- dred per cent in value.—Sporting dogs, from their edu- cation (for breaking is nothing more), are rendered very obnoxious to the disease, for they are, proportionally to the height of their breaking, removed from a natural state. Minorca gives birth to a breed of very famous pointers, that are of great value; but so fatal is Distem- per among them, that it is customary on purchasing a dog, to receive a certificate from the seller that the animal has had the. Distemper; and without which a dog is seldom bought. In other countries, less notice is taken of the disease: an Italian squirts vinegar and water upon his dog's nose, and gives him brimstone; under which treatment these dogs very frequently recover; and, there, little is thought of the complaint: but in England this treatment would not succeed. In America the disease is little understood; in the northern territories still less; and even in France, how little they are acquainted with it, may be gained from the Grand Encyclopedic Methodique, where it is described as a species of epidemic, that, some years, affects all the dogs of Europe. " II c'est jette, il y a quelques annees, une maladie c2 30 epidemique sur les chiens dans toutes I'Europe; il n'en est mort une grande partie sans que 1'on put trouver de remede au mal." Livraison LIX Chasses. Its fatality is very considerable; but it is not possible ex- actly to ascertain the average proportion of deaths to those attacked. It appears always more violent and fa- tal in dogs who are, as it is termed, bred high; which appears nothing more than crossing their breeds till the irritability and susceptibility of the animal to outward impressions are wound up to the highest pitch, by choos- ing only such parents as exhibit this in the strongest de- gree. If this is the case, we have no reason to be sur- prised that they should be more obnoxious to disease than others less highly bred. It is likewise very fatal among all the various tribes of lap-dogs, none of which appear more obnoxious to it than the pug. Terriers, likewise, who in villages and towns are not particularly attended to, have it mildly; but in London, where they are mostly kept as pets, have it with peculiar violence: and, in fact, it is to this artificial mode of life that all dogs, of whatsoever kind, have this dis- ease with remarkable virulence in this metropolis, and in other great cities. This renders the practice of attend- ing sick dogs in London particularly distressing, and pre- vents the practitioner reaping the credit from his exer- tions that he otherwise merits; for here the utmost atten- tion frequently fails, from the singular violence of the complaint- It is a dispute among sportsmen, in what degree Dis- temper is infectious; some alleging, that it is very much so; others, that it is so only in a slight degree. My op- portunities of observing it under «very variety of circum- stance are very considerable; and I am convinced few diseases are more generally infectious: and that, when a young dog is exposed to it without receiving it, it is not 31 because the disorder is not infectious, but because the constitution of the animal at that time, from some un- known cause, is not susceptible of it. I have exposed puppies to it, by rubbing the matter from an infected dog within their nostrils, with impunity at that time, but who have afterwards had it from a much slighter exposure. It at times puts on an epidemic form, attacking all the young dogs, of a certain district, nearly at the same time. Seasons, likewise, influence it: it is more prevalent in autumn than in am other period; and I have observed, that the dogs attacked with it in summer are subject to have it accompanied with purging, which continues through the complaint, proving obstinate in all, and fatal in numbers: on the contrary, in winter, consumption, spasm, and convulsions, are the most frequent fatal ter- minations. SYMPTOMS OF DISTEMPER. There is no disease with which I am acquainted, af- fecting either the human or brute creation, that appears under such a vast variety of forms as Distemper; never- theless, it has some predominant appearances and symp- toms common to almost every case, and sufficient in most instances to characterise it. Its progress is full as va- rious as its first appearance; and its healthy, diseased, or fatal terminations, have likewise numerous varieties. A disposition to sleep, with a dislike to much exertion; a moisture from the nose and eyes, either watery or of the appearance of matter; a general wasting in flash; sneez- ing; a dry husky cough; with considerable weakness, particularly in the loins; a distaste to food; with inces- sant sickness, and obstinate purging, are among the most 32 common of the symptoms of this complaint, some of which are present in every case of Distemper. The most general mode of attack is by slow, imperceptible de- grees. The dog is first observed to be dull; to become thinner, though he perhaps eats tolerably well: in this way he continues two or three weeks before any other symptom appears; at other times, a watery moisture from the nose and eyes accompanies the first appear- ances, with a frequent sneezing, or a dry husky cough, or both. Sometimes to these are added purging; and the dog either gradually sinks under it, or recovers, before the running from the nose and eyes becomes considerable, or while it is simply in a watery state. This last appear- ance is common to very young dogs, and particularly so during the summer. But even the cough and sneezing are not inseparable from it, though they are the most common of the symptoms; for sometimes the animal will become drowsy, emaciated, and weak, without either of them, and will continue so. In some cases the eyes run most, and in others the nose; but in the greater number both produce matter, or a thin fluid. In general, the eyes and nose produce a watery moisture only in the first stages, which gradually, as the complaint advances, changes to pus, or matter. In some cases this is longer, in others a less, time in taking place. Either the first symptoms are so slight, in some instances, as to escape detection, or some of these animals are attacked with the full violence of the complaint at once: now and theu a convulsive fit is the first symptom observed. Pug dogs, I think, appear to have the disease more irregular than any others: it is likewise in them peculiarly fa- tal; and, I believe, attacks them earlier than most other dogs. The peculiar weakness that attacks the loins and hinder parts in this complaint sometimes appears very early, and likewise very sudden; in other cases it does not appear at all, even though the termination should be 33 fatal. Many cases of Distemper put on a putrid appear- ance: this is common where the attack has been violent at the first, and rather sudden; and in these instances the disease lasts, even with violence, for two, three, or four weeks, producing every appearance of putrid fever; the running from the eyes and nose being very foetid, and often bloody; the stools black, liquid, and very offensive; and the animal restless, weak, and very irritable. This state of the complaint is very difficult of cure; but, with great attention, the plan of treatment I am about to re- commend will, however, frequently rescue the animal even thus situated. In this state of the disease, it is not unfrequent for an abscess to form immediately on the ball of the eye, over the pupil or sight: this sportsmen call the pearl on the eye, from its white appearance. Thus it appears that the fatal terminations of this com- plaint are frequent, from a most violent and obstinate purging. An obstinate looseness has been peculiarly pre- valent this year (1805): nine cases out of ten have had it as the most prevailing symptom. In other instances it terminates under the form of putrid fever. There are likewise other cases, in which the disease lingers for a long time with some violence, the putrid symptoms being much less than in the former, but the cough more dis- tressing; and the animal dies in the last stage of emacia- tion and decline. On dissection, these cases shew them- selves as true instances of pulmonary consumption, ex- actly similar to the same complaint in the human: but it is remarkable, that, very frequently, the lungs on one side only are effected. Another mode in which this disease terminates fatally, and that more frequently than either of the former, particularly in winter, is by convulsive fits. The appearance of "these fits is as irregular as that of any of the other symptoms: in some cases they ap- pear early in the complaint, and with their full violence; in others, only near the close of the disorder; but in all they are the "most fatal symptom that accompanies it; 34 tew escaping that have been once attacked. However, when one fit, or even two, appear in a dog tolerably strong, and early in the complaint, without being fob lowed up by others, if a proper plan of treatment is pur- sued, he will, often, recover. The most usual appearance of these fits is gradual, and first shewn by a champing of the mouth, quivering of the jaws, and a quick motion as if snapping at flies. From this affection, the spasm by degrees becomes more general, till the whole body is convulsed, and the fits terrible. When a dog has labour- ed under the disease severely, and at once his eyes brighten, and he eats voraciously, it is the usual fore- runner of fits: when the running at the nose and eyes stops suddenly, fits likewise frequently follow. To pre- vent this effect, I generally in such cases immediately in- troduce a seton into the neck; and, if the prostration of strength is not great, give an emetic and purgative. The fits produced by Distemper are very frightful in their ap- pearance; and, in the minds of persons unacquainted with them, excite the idea of madness: in some few in- stances they really resemble it; but in most cases they may be readily distinguished, as I shall hereafter no- tice. There is another species of convulsion, or spasmodic affection, sometimes accompanying Distemper, but which is usually confined, or local, and does not affect the senses. In all its appearances and effects it resembles the palsy, of the human: sometimes shaking the whole body, at others the head only is affected; and some instances oc- cur where one of the hind legs alone is paralyzed. This species of palsy does not come on, usually, till the animal is beginning to recover from the other effects of the com- plaint, and when once it has appeared, it is with difficul- ty removed: but, in most cases, it either wears the ani- mal down, or more frequently remains with him his na- tural life. I have, however, succeeded in removing it by means of the cold bath, blisters, and electricity. 35 i'ne termination of the complaint by palsy may be, therefore, regarded as a diseased termination; for it is neither a healthy nor a fatal one. And to which I may add another unhealthy termination, which, though very rarely, now and then occurs, and that is, in idiotism. In more than one instance the disease has been observed to leave the dog a complete idiot, without the use of his mental faculties, wholly deprived of his reason, and par- tially so of his instinct. In a late instance, a setter, who had remained in this state two years, was run over in the public road, and killed; utterly unaware of the danger of the carriage wheel. The healthy terminations of the complaint are either by a sudden restoration of health, or by a gradual amendment. Till the treatment I am about to recommend was practised, the former seldom occurred, though the latter now and then happened. But since the medicine I make use of is become generally known, and given, the former cases are very numerous, and the latter universal: that is, that innumerable dogs recover at once; many others recover more slowly; but the aggregate num- ber of deaths is now very small to what it was before this discovery. NATURE AND CAUSE OF DISTEMPER. The most careful dissections of diseased subjects, in every stage of the complaint, do not throw much light on the nature, and still less on the cause, of Distemper. The remote cause appears so involved in obscurity, that, at pre- sent, I would not hazerd a conjecture concerning it. The proximate cause appears, as far as I can form an opinion of it, a specific catarrhal affection; that is, the immediate cause of the disease seems to consist in an inflammation 30 of the pituitary, or schneiderian membrane, which is that mucous expansion that lines the nose, and all the cavities that are appendages to it; but that this inflammation is of a specific kind, and distinct from that simple inflammation of this membrane, producing catarrh, or what is called a cold, in ourselves. Glanders is likewise a specific in- flammation of the schneiderian membrane in horses, but is unlike common catarrh, and is dissimilar to distemper. This inflammatory affection extends from the nose to the larynx, or commencement of the windpipe, and produces that dry husky cough so usually an attendant on this complaint: this seems to form the specific character of the disease; but, as it advances, the inflammation fre- quently extends either down me bronchia, or windpipe, to the lungs, ov djwn the oesophagus, or gullet, to the stomach and bowels. In some cases, both of these pas- sages are affected; in others, only one. When the lungs become inflamed, the cough is more troublesome and fre- quent, and the flanks heave. Now and then suppuration is produced, and the animal dies consumptive. When the stomach becomes inflamed, the dog is distressingly sick, and unable to keep any thing down; and as the in- flammation extends to the intestines, he becomes violently purged. But the extent of the affection does not appear confined only to the parts I have mentioned, but likewise, in some way, to carry its influence to the brain and nerves, in many instances,but does not produce the common effects of simple inflammation altogether, which are usually that of increased action; whereas most of the appearances at- tendant have more the character of diminished energy. In what manner the convulsive fits themselves are brought on, and whether they are a primary affection of the brain itself, or only symptomatic from the derangement of some other part, I cannot at present decide; though it is not unlikely that the membranes of the nose and frontal sinus, being inflamed, may transmit their affection by continuity to the membranes of the brain, and thus produce the af- 37 fcction. It is, altogether, a very difficult subject, and in- volved in very great obscurity; and any fallacious rea- soning, unsupported by opposite facts, would lead into error. 11 an animal is killed during the first stages of this complaint, on examination, a great redness of the pituita- ry, or membrane lining the nose, is evident throughout, as well as of the inner membrane of the beginning of the trachea or windpipe. In the more advanced periods, this mucous membrane of the nose sometimes appears extensively ulcerated, together with the windpipe, and the lungs themselves. I have seen not only the ethmoidal cells full of water, but even the bone itself become cari- ous. This ulceration of the mucous membrane does not frequently take place, unless the disease has been exist- ing a very Jong time, and with great violence: when it has taken place, the cure must be very doubtful. The stomach and intestines frequently shew marks of consi- derable inflammation, particularly in the advanced stages. The fits that accompany Distemper make it very often mistaken for madness. Other complaints are likewise not unfrequently considered as Distemper; as worms fits and a species of asthma which dogs are subject to, called the husk; but, mistaking it for hydrophobia, or madness is often attended with very distressing consequences; for either the poor animal is abandoned to his fate, or unre- lentingly killed. I have been witness to some shocking .scenes of this description, v* hen a harmless and suffer- ing sick animal has been confined in a cold cellar or coal- bole, or chained to a post in some exposed out-house, fear preventing any care from being bestowed on him, and he dies more a victim to undesigned cruelty, than to the disease; others are at once despatched, whose recovery might be safely promised. But one of the most unpleasant consequences arising from this error, is, the dread which timid persons, sometimes for months afterwards, labour under, when an animal thus supposed mad has been either D o8 killed, or has died; and when, by their attendance on the animal, they have fancied themselves in danger. But this dread might always be avoided, by attending to some very definite distinctions, easily drawn between these two diseases.—Madness does not often attack puppies. Dis- temper is mostly confined to dogs before or just com- pleting their growth. Madness usually begins by a sul- len moroseness, a shunning of every body, even the per- sons the animal was most attached to: nor is there any running from the nose or eyes, which usually forms a strong characteristic in the other disease. In Distemper, though the animal may be dull, heavy, weak, and languid, yet he has never any of that sullen shiness about him: he is equally tractable and affectionate (except during the fits,) to those he knows, as at other times; and this should be particularly attended to, as forming a very distinguish- ing mark between these two complaints. It is very sel- dom that the Distemper proceeds so rapidly as to destroy in three or four days, though now and then it happens; but madness is very rapid in its attack, and usually proves fatal within three, or, at farthest, four days. There is not often any cough in madness, but it is seldom absent in Distemper. With regard to the aversion to water, so generally insisted upon, it sometimes leads into error, for mad dogs do not appear to feel any great dread of it, and, in the majority of instances, drink as usual: hence the term hydrophobia is incorrect, as far as relates to dogs; indeed, the term can only apply to the rabid poison when acting on a human person, no quadruped having an aver- sion to liquids characteristic of the disease. As madness advances in an affected dog, he entirely loses his reason, and has a fiery wild eye, that is seldom seen in Distem- per: he offers to bite every one around him, and his keep- er as eagerly as a stranger. - This a dog in Distemper will also do, at times; but then it is only while labouring under a fit. Now it is but seldom that a fit lasts very long upon the dog; that is, he falls into one of these fits, 39 during the continuance of which he appears, certainly, like a mad dog; but then it conies suddenly on him, and he was perfectly collected and tractable before: and it likewise generally leaves him as suddenly; soon after which he resumes his usual temper, his affections, and his tractability. But not at all so with a dog really mad: he has, when once the disease is truly formed, few lucid intervals, and those only momentary; his anxiety and dis- tress are continued, and his ravings of the most savage and mischievous kind: and, if he escapes, he runs inces- santly, with eager and savage fury, attacking every thing he meets, till, exhausted, he yields to his fate. These circumstances should be carefully attended to, as they are nearly unerring, and may save numerous valuable and unhappy animals from destruction, and many a timid mind from dread. There is a species of fits, likewise, with which Dis- temper is sometimes confounded; but these fits usually appear suddenly, from some great exertion, when the weather is very hot; but in these cases, as soon as the immediate attack is over, the dog appears perfectly well, exhibiting no running at the nose and eyes, nor having any cough. The husk is a kind of asthma dogs are sub- ject to, but it is frequent only in older dogs; and, when it appears in younger subjects, may be characterised by the particular sound of the cough, by being unaccom- panied with running either from the nose or eyes, and at- tended with little general affection of the health, and be- ing the general consequence of fatness or confinement. I have now and then, likewise, seen the symptoms aris- ing from worms, in puppies of only a few weeks old. mistaken for it; but the time of the attack, and every at- tendant circumstance, are sufficient to distinguish it in the mind, of those the least conversant with dog?. 40 THE CUKE OF DISTEMPER. In treating of the cure of this complaint, though I shall be pretty diffuse in my instructions, yet as I shall with- hold from the public a knowledge of the principal reme- dy, on which I ground my attempts at a cure, so I must subject myself to the appearance of empiricism; but it is in the present instance unavoidable : the researches by which I was enabled to effect the discovery of a Remedy for this complaint, were not conducted without great trou- ble, considerable expense, and a great loss of time. I therefore have no mode of remunerating myself for my attention, nor reimbursing my expenses, but by this pub- lic appeal, and by placing this Remedy within the reach of every one, by distributing it very generally, ready pre- pared, in the hands of venders of respectability through- out the United States. The success of this plan may be truly said to be unlimited; and I can with truth say, that, in the most desperate cases, under every peculiarity of circumstance, and under every variety of the disease, I have had the satisfaction of hearing it as most uniformly successful under a fair exhibition. I would not be thought to insult the public good sense so much as even to hint—that it is never found to fail; on the contrary, many instances occur of this kind: but this I can safely assert, that, in a very great proportion of these cases, either it has been given too late, and the constitution was so far gone as to be incapable of renovation, or the dis- ease itself was combined with-some other affection, as. with worms, which is very frequently the case, and is known by the worms coming away. But one of the most usual causes of failure is owing to its not being as- sisted by a liberal support of the animal, during the dis- ease in point of- nourishment, both before and after it has been given. Some persons, trusting to the medicinr alone, and disliking the trouble, seem to forget the ne- cessity of forcing the dog to eat, if he refuses of himself. 41 and without which support every thing must fail; for, in these kind of cases, though the Medicine removes the dis- ease, yet the animal may die, from the weakness it has before brought on: therefore, unless the strength is kept up by nourishment, only half is done. To sensible and humane minds it is needless to say, that not much de- pendance can be placed on any medicine whatever, if given to a sick animal confined in a coal hole, cellar, cold stable, or barn, with a little water, cold mess, raw meat, or a few bones before him ! And yet I have heard some persons, with an animal thus treated, express their surprise that the Medicinal Powder has not immediately removed the complaint: nor, indeed, ought a few instan- ces, even were they to occur, of more evident want of success, to weaken the general faith in this Remedy, when the great body of evidence in its favour is consi- dered, the thousands it is universally known to cure, and the astonishingly lessened fatality of the complaint since its discovery. Mercury is known to be the only specific for a disease that is the scourge of mankind; and though its discovery was most salutary, yet mercury sometimes fails: but no one from hence disputes the general efficacy of this mineral. Bark is the most happy remedy for ague; yet no one abuses bark because now and then it will not cure this complaint. The Medicine I am about to recommend stands precisely in the same case: it is as near a specific and certain remedy for this complaint as it can well be; and, as such, I can with great confidence most strenuously recommend it to the trial of every one. It is usual with public medicines to produce some tes* timonials of success. I have many hundreds that are open to inspection, but the inserting them in this place is thought unnecessary. This Medicine has stood the test often years, and has every year rapidly increased in reputation. Its form is a powder, carefully packed up, with expli- d2 42 cit directions. Its price is trivial, as its use is wished to be extensive. Fifty cents will be thought by no one too much for the cure of a valuable animal. Though efficacious in the highest degree, it is never- theless perfectly mild and innocent. The dose that will cure a full grown mastiff would not produce any hurtful effect on a puppy of a week old; so that no danger ever attends it, let the dog be ever so small, delicate, or weak; nor is there any stage of the complaint in which it is not proper to give it, except where there is violent purging: in such cases as the mildest remedies irritate the bowels, it is prudent to stop the purging, in the manner hereafter di- rected, previous to giving the Powder. I mention this perfect safety more strongly, as many persons, not know- ing the composition of the Medicine, and supposing it, from its publicity, to be empirical, might be fearful of giving it. As a regular medical man, having had a con- siderable share of experience, I must be supposed to be tolerably well aware of the effects of medicines in gene- ral; and that what I assert as so innocent, that I would readily give it to a child, may be safely administered to any the most tender dog. But though thus perfectly de- void of noxious qualities, it must not be supposed to be less efficacious; nor must those who are advocates for strong remedies, suppose, that because its effects are not the shaking the whole constitution, that thereby the dis- ease is not eradicated. It does not often produce any sensible effect, but that of lessening the symptoms, which it commonly does within an hour or two after it is given. Sometimes its effects are immediate, and the disease totally disappears at once: at others it is not so rapid in its effects, but the symptoms retire more gradu- ally, yet' effectually. From want of acquaintance with the disease, I have known persons, having given the Me- dicine when the disease has been in the last stage, and fits having followed, who have been weak enough to con- sider the fits as the effect of the Powder; but this can 43 never be the case; and whenever they come on after this Powder has been administered, it is only because the Medicine has been too long delayed, and the consti- tution too far gone to admit of renovation: and thus these fits, which are the usual attendants on the com- plaint when it is fatal, come on either with or without the Medicine. DIRECTIONS FOR THE CURE OF DISTEMPER, AND FOR ADMINISTERING THE MEDICINAL POWDER. I have before made it understood, that my principal de- pendance for the cure of Distemper is, on giving a me- dicine, the same as Mr. Blaine's, together with the cures it has performed by him. I more than ever trust principally to it for the cure, and have, more than ever, reason to be satisfied with its success; but this success depends in a great measure on the observance of other at- tendant circumstances in the treatment, which I am about to particularize. I must likewise, in this place, premise, that though many of the worst cases of Distemper are cured by a single dose of the medicine, yet some others require a repetition of it; and, as the cost is trifling, I would always, where the animal is valued, recommend a second or third dose, which is a plan I invariably pursue in my own practice, as well to complete the cure as to prevent a return of the complaint. That which renders it so particularly difficult to give directions for the general treatment of this disease, is, that it appears under such a vast variety of forms, and has at one time one set of predominant symptoms, and 44 at another, another set. In some cases the violence of the running from the nose and eyes is the leading feature of the disease: in others, this is almost entirely absent, and an obstinate purging alone distresses the clog. In some, again, there is neither running from the head, nor purging; but the dog is dull, and wastes daily, though he may eat as usual. Fits, again, now and then predomi- nate, and evince that a dog has Distemper, though he may have neither of the foregoing complaints to any great excess. This being the case, the treatment must be necessarily varied; and though still in all these varie- ties my dependance is equally placed on the Distemper Remedy, sold as such, yet this Remedy may be greatly aided, in some cases, by an addition of other articles; and in some this adventitious assistance is absolutely neces- sary. I will, therefore, to render the treatment plain under all its forms, trace the disease, from its usual man- ner of commencement, through its various stages and under its general varieties, to its termination. In the greater number of instances, the Distemper is first detected by the puppy it affects becoming more dull than usual, and not thriving; on the contrary, though he may continue to eat for some time" very well, he wastes, and becomes emaciated; his eyes, perhaps, being weak and moist, with frequent sneezing and a husky cough, which occasions an ineffectual effort to bring something up, or at best a little frothy matter only appears. In this early and general state, the stomach should be prepared for the medicine by an emetic: this not only greatly in- creases the efficacy of the medicine, but emetics also as- sist very materially in the cure. The most proper eme- tic, I conceive, is emetic tartar; two or three grains of Which, according to the size, may be given between bread and butter, or in milk and water. Four, five, or six grains of James's powder is also a useful emetic; and, in the absence of these, a dessert spoonful of common salt dissolved in water will answer the purpose very well. io On the. following day, a medicinal powder, of No. 1, 2, or 3, (according to the age and size, as directed,) should be made into a bard ball with lard or butter, and forced down the throat by putting it on the back of the tongue, and pushing it down with a finger, keeping the mouth shut till it is observed to pass down. It is very common that this first dose at once leaves the animal free from the dis- ease; but I deem it always safe and prudent (to prevent relapse, which is very common) to give at least a second, and commonly a third powder. But in many instances, though the amendment is evident and considerable, there will remain some appearance of the complaint. A day may be suffered to chtpse without any medicine; but on the following morning, particularly if the dog continues strong, or coughs much, and is without purging, I would recommend a second emetic; and, in the evening or next morning, a second Distemper Powder. This will most probably complete the cure, when a third powder may be given, after an interval of three or four days, to prevent relapse. Some few cases there are, however, in which, though the amendment is evident, there will still remain some appearance of the complaint, even after a second or third dose. It is not prudent to suffer the dog to remain with- out medicine in this case, from the supposition that it will go gradually off, even though the remaining symp- toms are ever so slight; for the dog, if neglected,* will get suddenly worse, and fits or fatal purging will rapidly hasten his end. In these more tedious cases, after the above plan has been tried, it will be proper to mix three or four Distemper Powders with an equal weight of Cas- carilla bark, to make the whole up into eight or teji balls, of which one may be given every morning. This will almost invariably ensure success. In this, as in every other stage of Distemper, costive- ness must be avoided; but, on the other hand, when the disease is once properly formed, particularly if the dog •it) is young, or shews any symptoms of weakness, strong purges must be carefully avoided. A small quantity 01 castor oil will serve to loosen the body in these cases. When the dulness is very great, and the affection of the head seems yery considerable, more especially if there is any disposition to fits, a seton may be of the utmost be- nefit. The mode of introducing a seton, generally prac- tised by farriers, is, by passing a red-hot iron through the skin of the neck, and then introducing a piece of tape, or skein of thread, through the opening: but this is a rough and cruel practice; and the burning the skin pro- duces a large scar. A seton may be easily introduced by means of a seton needle, or even by a common packiug needle, armed with tape; and, to hasten its effect, the tape may be smeared with turpentine, or blistering oint- ment. Sometimes the Distemper, attacking the animal in the way I have described, is accompanied from the first with looseness; in which case the purge, and even the vomit, must be omitted. If it is not violent, the powder may be given at once, and which alone will frequently check the purging; but if it should be at all violent, the pow- der should not be given till the purging is stopped, and which may be readily done by the following: powdered gum Arabic and prepared < balk, each -*- ounce: make into eight, ten, or twelve firm balls, according to the size of the dog, and give him one, two or three times a-day. Chalk dissolved in starch, or suet boiled with milk, will frequently have the desired effect; but the above is the most certain. After the purging is stopped, the powder should be administered; repeating it, as directed, till the whole of the symptoms are removed, being particularly careful to check the purging whenever it appears. If the animal should be very weak, half a table spoonful of port wine may be mixed with the starch. If the sick- ness, likewise, as is sometimes the case, should be ex- cessive, it will be:-t be relieved by a few drops of lauda- 41 num in some gruel, or mixed with the powder; but it will be better to relieve the sickness before the powder is given. Under this plan of treatment, these general forms of the disease are readily relieved; but should the treatment have been begun too late, or should the disease prove ve- ry obstinate, to the former symptoms may succeed a great flow of thick matter from the nose and eyes, accompa- nied with shivering, considerable weakness, particularly of the loins, and often obstinate cough. This stage of the complaint often puts on a putrid appearance, in which case the former symptoms are much aggravated, the weakness is even greater, the running from the nose and eyes is foetid, and sometimes bloody; and the stools dark, loose, and highly offensive. Here, likewise, the Medicinal Powder is the remedy to be principally de- pended on, though here there is a greater necessity for combining other means: these principally consist in a very frequent giving of strong nutriment, as, thick gruel, gravy, or broth, if the purging is not excessive; and of starch, rice gruel, or suet boiled in milk, if it is: these should be very frequently forced down, if the animal re- fuses to lap or eat; and it must be remembered, as a ge- neral rule, that Distemper is a disease of weakness, and there is hardly any stage of it in which the animal can be too liberally supported, and that there is hardly any stage of it from which the dog will recover without it. In this putrid and acute species of Distemper, to the Distemper Powder must be united Bark. To a Distem- per Powder may be added an equal weight of Peruvian Bark, and which may be made into four balls, of which give one or two, night and morning, or three times a-day. If the Peruvian Bark should be found to purge, Casca- rilla Bark may be substituted, as much less liable to have that effect; but should this also purge, give with every one of these balls one of the gum arabic and chalk balls, a quarter of a grain of opium, or ten or fifteen drops of 48 laudanum. If the weakness is excessive, a tabic spoon- ful of port wine may be frequently poured down; but, it must be remembered, this is only proper in very putrid cases, and when the bowels are not much affected; when they are, the wine only gives pain, and heightens the irritation. In this form of the disease, purging i< very often an accompaniment, and weakens the animal rapidly, so that it must be most carefully checked. The gum arabic with chalk, as before directed, will seldom fail; and to these may be added starch, boiled thick, as for washing, and poured down in considerable quanti- ties. This looseness of the bowels is sometimes so obstinate as not to permit either the Distemper Powder or the bark to remain, even though they are accompanied by the gum arabic and chalk. In this case we must submit to the necessity, and endeavour to stop the purging by omit- ting every other medicine but the gum arabic and chalk, which is so sovereign a remedy, when properly adminis- tered, that it may be said to be almost infallible. When the looseness seems effectually checked, then the Distem- per Powder and bark may be persevered in. When the cough is very distressing, it may be remov- ed by blistering the throat. Cleanliness will likewise much assist the animal. The nose and eyes should be frequently washed with vinegar and water, and some of it, very weak, may be syringed up the nostrils; the litter, too, should be often changed; and, in winter, warmth is as essential as fresh air is in summer. It is not unfrequent that, when the disease has been neglected for some time, or, in some cases, even when it has been attended to, from great weakness and loss of appetite, the dog suddenly eats voraciously; Ins eyes be- come bright, and he appears particularly amended. These appearances, unless produced by the treatment it- self, are frequently the forerunners of fits, and which usu- ally prove fatal. The means most likely to prevent these 4b) tits coming on, or to remove them when they have appear- ed, is the introduction of a seton in the neck, and open- ing the body with a brisk purge; after which the animal must be supported as nutriciously as before. The weak- ness of the loins, when it appears likely to degenerate into palsy, which is shewn by convulsive twitchings coming on, is best obviated by a seton, rubbing the back with oil of turpentine, very liberally supporting the animal, and giving the medicinal powder, with bark, as di- rected. Having thus described the treatment at large, I shall now recapitulate the principal points to be attended to. The medicinal powder is the only remedy capable of re- moving the complaint; and, I can assure the public, there is no case beyond its reach; nor are the worst cases hopeless: on the contrary, I daily see dogs recover- ed from not only emaciation, but even apparent death. Patience and perseverance will save almost every case. In many cases, one dose, without any precaution or pre- vious attention, will remove the disease; but I would al- ways recommend a second, even in slight cases, at an interval of two days; and, if the dog is a great favourite, I would give a third, at an interval of three days from the second. I always pursue this plan in my own practice. If the body has not been at all open, and the dog is strong, and newly labouring under the complaint, I would al- ways recommend an emetic before the powder; and, in slight cases, this plan of an emetic, and one medicinal powder alone, will frequently prove sufficient; though, as the complaint sometimes returns after it has been ap- parently cured, a little farther care and more medicine are always prudent. Costiveness must be always remov- ed, but the means should not be too violent. Purging is cue of the most fatal symptoms, and must be stopped by every means: if it continues long, it reduces the dog, and prevents the possibility of recovery. During every stage of Distemper, the animal must be E 50 fed high and plentifully, and particularly when the disease is violent. When the convulsive fits have appeared, the case is nearly hopeless; but if any means can remove them, it must be attempted by keeping the animal very warm, giving the powrder every five or six hours, with a grain of opium, or sixty drops of laudanum in each dose, besides ale, wine, or even brandy, in liberal quantities; at the same time introducing a seton in the neck, or blistering the head. I have thus attempted a very clear and copious detail of the treatment of this complaint, particularly adapted for the use of persons not within the reach of the author's advice. But as this complaint appears under such a vast variety of forms, and as, consequently, its treatment be- comes, likewise, necessarily very complex and varied, and more particularly as the disease in London assumes a more virulent form, so it is strongly recommended, that, in every case of the attack of a favourite or valuable dog, he should be consulted on the occasion, when he will be enabled to point out the treatment most proper, and hence to offer the greater certainty of success. But when the disease is in a very mild form, no precaution is essen- tially necessary but giving the medicine in such a man- ner as that the dog may take the whole; that is, the pow- der should be carefully mixed with a small quantity of any thing that the animal will eat; but if averse to eat- ing, it should be made into a small ball, with butter, ho- ney, treacle, or paste, and forced down. If it is mixed with any liquid, its weight will carry it to the bottom, and it will by this means be lost. It should likewise be given on an empty stomach, or its effects may be lessen- ed or destroyed. When given, the animal should be watched, that he may not bring it up. In all cases, as it is perfectly harmless and not expensive, when there is the least reason to suppose it was not all taken, or was thrown up, or that any symptoms appear to remain, a se- cond dose should by no means be neglected. The symp- 51 bins frequently remove without any particular appear- ance, and so quickly, that, when the medicine is given, there is often no remains of the disease in two hours af- terwards. As much as possible, care will be taken to place it in the hands of such venders where no imitation or im- position would be attempted; but when there has been any gross or palpable failure in success, it would be pru- dent to ascertain whether the medicine was really pro- cured from the wholesale agent, or to inform that agent (James Carver) of its want of success; with an account of the size, age of the dog, and circumstances under which it was given. This information would greatly oblige the proprietor, as he would then have it in his power to exculpate the medicine, and prosecute the imi- tator for forgery. Frauds of this kind are so frequent, that the failure of any medicine should not be attributed to want of efficacy in the thing itself, till this point is es- tablished. In this instance it is more particularly neces- sary, as the most efficacious part in the composition of this medicine consists of a substance utterly unknown to druggists or compounders of medicines. DISTEMPER AMONG CATS. I have before said, that there is a disease that appears in an epidemic form, and highly contagious, among cats, that very much resembles the Distemper in dogs. That it is of a nature not dissimilar, is farther evinced by the certainty with which it is cured by the Distemper Pow- der; one, or, at most, two doses, in every instance, ef* fecting a cure. One powder is sufficient for two doses, -----This notice is not inserted to increase the sale of the medicine, but in humanity to the suffering animals. J. CARVER, THE OUTLINES OF A PLAN For enabling persons not medically educated to practise successfully on the Diseases of their own Horses and Dogs, without the necessity, in common cases, of having recourse to a regular Practitioner. Effected by a com- pendious and clear Account of the Symptoms or Appear- ances of their several Diseases; accompanied with a ju- dicious assortment of ready prepared Remedies, of most approved efficacy, compounded from genuine una- dulterated Drugs, in the most convenient form. Every one is aware, that, till within a few years, the diseases of domestic animals have been little attend- ed to, and still less understood; and, even at this mo- ment, however cities and large towns may be benefited by the presence of more able practitioners, yet moderate towns, villages, and the country at large, are perfectly without the means of affording their animals relief, ex- cepting what a neighbouring blacksmith can afford: and even in places better supplied, from the temporary ab- sence of the practitioner, immediate assistance cannot, sometimes, be had. Again, in trifling and lingering cases, persons frequently wish to avoid the enormous expense usually brought on by a farrier's attendance. In all these instances, it must be at once evident, that could any means be devised by which the owners of horses and 53 dogs in general could be taught to distinguish, with ease* and accuracy, one disease from another, it would be a very desirable circumstance: and if to this was added, a ready mode of treating these diseases successfully, unfet- tered from the dryness and difficulty of a regular medical enquiry, by which these persons would be enabled to act promptly, in most common cases, without any other aid than what this plan affords; if all this could be effected, I shall be readily believed, when I say, that great and last- ing benefits would be derived from it. Now that what I have stated is possible, I hope to make appear in the following detail. In bringing forward this plan, and in vending ready prepared medicines, however excellent their composition, and however well adapted to the purposes intended, I shall be taxed with empiricism: but to this I do not plead guilty; for, in the first place, I will never make up any medicines for general distribu- tion, but for such complaints as appear, in most cases, un- der the same form, with the same symptoms; and that require, nearly in all cases, the same treatment. In the second place, I pretend to few secrets; though the re- cipes from which some of my medicines are compound- ed, I do believe, have never been before used, and some of the substances employed are nearly unknown; but, in the greater number of instances, I profess only to make use of generally approved drugs: but I claim to myself, that they are of the very best kind, judiciously arranged, properly compounded, and adapted to act successfully in the various cases they are prescribed for. Lastly, I may add, that, whenever farriery is as well understood as hu- man medicine, and its practitioners as universally distri- buted throughout the United Kingdom, then my medicine plan shall cease. But, till this is brought about, I shall, I think, render some service to the public, by placing within their im- mediate reach good medicines, ready prepared, for the most prevalent of the diseases of horses and dogs; and, e2 54 to do this in such a way as to prove as useful as I wish it, I shall proceed in the following manner. Many of the diseases of the horse and dog are well known to every one; others are more obscure: not only, therefore, must medicines be offered for diseases, but the means of distinguishing these diseases from each other must be taught; and it is in this that my plan differs from any previous one; and it is here that I hope to be more emi- nently useful to others, and consequently beneficial to myself. To effect this, inclosed with every medical compound which I offer, will be not only ample direc- tions for giving it, but a complete treatise on the com- plaint that article is intended for; describing its causes, its usual appearance, its progress, the varieties it exhi- bits, with the proper mode of treatment, not only as far as regards these medicines, but as regards every other re- medy that may with propriety be tried, either in prefer- ence to my own, or in case of its failure; and this, I pre- sume, an empiric medicine or nostrum never does. But as it is evident, that, till a particular medicine is bought, and hence these inclosed treatises obtained, a person having a sick animal may be at a loss what dis- ease to class it under; and, even though he should not, some other among the ready prepared medicines might be more proper, and as such he has laid his money out to no purpose; so it is necessary that there should be some key to the whole, whereby any one may become sufficiently acquainted with the usual appearances every disease puts on, enabling him thereby readily to distin- guish the particular malady his animal labours under: af- ter which he may judge for himself, and either use the ready prepared remedies recommended, or advert to the others mentioned at large in the description. This work, which I am publishing, is the result of many year's experience, and composed with much at- tention. It describes, alphabetically, all the diseases to which horses are subject, their causes, and symp- 55 toms; with the mode of cure at large, and a general enu- meration of the various remedies in general use for each complaint; at the same time remarking on those I would particularly recommend, and that may be obtained ready prepared. These various subjects are attempted in such a manner as to be perfectly clear to the comprehension of persons not medically educated, being divested of techni- cal terms and medical phraseology. It comprehends, likewise, after the diseases of the horse, those of the dog: in my attention to which I am a little peculiar, and hence this part is wholly novel. Here, likewise, I shall point out some remedies, ready prepared, that in my own practice I have used with success. To teach, therefore, the art of distinguishing the dis- eases of the horse and dog, to simplify the practice, and render the cure easy of attainment, is the object of this compendium: but as the remedies it prescribes are in many instances very difficult to be procured faithfully made up; or, even when made, it is impossible to answer either for the exactness or goodness of the composition; so, unless ready prepared remedies accompany this do- mestic vade mecum of farriery, its end and intention are but half answered. It is very difficult, in any place, to get a prescription of horse medicines faithfully compound- ed, from the expense of the drugs usually entering its composition, which, therefore, often occasions the quan- tity to be stinted. This is not the worst: the quality is as often defective; and it is very common to keep an as- sortment of indifferent or bad drugs purposely to make up horse medicines from: and, in the last place, unless a druggist is near, it is seldom a farrier (even if he has it in his power) will make up any other recipe than his own. To obviate these difficulties, therefore, this plan of teaching the diseases of these animals is accompanied by the means of cure; that is, that the medicines recom- mended in this practical treatise will be placed in the hands of all the respectable Medicine Venders throughout the 56 United States, ready compounded, in the most conve- nient form, from drugs not only excellent in quality, but correct as to quantity, faithfully and judiciously pre- pared by myself, from recipes the result of long experi- ence and extensive practice. At present the plan com- prehends not only the diseases of the Horse and Dog; but it includes those of Oxen and Sheep. » 57 An Arrangement of the Prevalent Diseases of Horses and Dogs, with the Remedies most proper for their removal. Blistering of Horses is of great advantage in in- flammations, to remove old swellings, strengthen old weaknesses, and to take away splents, curbs, spavins, &c.: for all these the Blistering Ointment will be found excellent. Breaking Down may be much assisted by bathing with the Embrocation for Strains; and, when the heat is removed, apply the Blistering Ointment, or bathe with the Liquid Sweating Blister. Broken Wind: the Cough Balls given in the early stages will often remove the affection. Cold: when a horse has caught a cold, the Fever Powders will generally remove it: should any great weak- ness remain, give a Cardial Fever Ball. Condition: when horses are out of condition, warmth, and the Alterative Condition Powders, will restore it. Cordials: when a cordial is necessary, give one of the Cordial Balls. Cough: when a horse has a cough without fever, give a course of Cough Balls, and he will be speedily cured. Curb: a curb is generally removed by one or two blis- ters of the Blistering Ointment. Diuretics are excellent cleansers: they promote con- dition, they remove swelled legs, are good in the farcy and in glanders, and in obstructed urine or gravel. Exercise is essentially necessary to horses; but when, from lameness or bad weather, they cannot go out, they should be well hand rubbed, and one of the Diuretic Powders given each other or third day, which will keep their legs fine. Eyes: when the eyes are inflamed, relief may be ob- tained from the Eye Water. Farcy: this disease, when it has become very rank, 58 » may nevertheless be cured by a proper course of the Farcy Balls. Fistula: all fistulous sores, as pole evil, those of the withers, &c. may be removed, if not very inveterate, by injecting into them either the Liquid Sweating Blister, or the Mild Wash for Grease; but when they have become very inveterate and foul, the Strong Paste for Grease must be melted and poured in. Glanders may now and then be benefited by the Farcy Balls. Glysters are very useful to horses; various forms of them may be seen in the Domestic Treatise. Grease, in its early stage, may be cured by the Mild Wash; but when it has become inveterate, the Strong Paste for Grease is necessary. Gripes may be removed by the Cholic Balls, and by the Cholic Glyster in Domestic Treatise.* Hidebound: a course of the Alterative Condition Pow- ders will commonly relieve this affection. Jaundice, or yellows, may be commonly removed by two or three doses of Mercurial Physic. Lameness, when arising from strains, may be removed by bathing with the Embrocation for Strains, or the Li- quid Sweating Blisters; when from splents, bone spavin, ringbones, and other causes, the Blistering Oinment will remove them. Mallenders and Sellenders are at once cured by a little of the Strong Paste for Grease. Moulting makes horses very faint, but it may be re- moved by an Alterative Ball every night, and every other morning a Cordial Ball. Poultices are often useful; many forms may be met with in the Domestic Treatise. Physicking of Horses is very useful to bring them * Gripe Tincture—This tincture is a late discovery of B. Clark, V S. in London, and is tlie most certain specific we havr 59 into condition, to remove foulness, to carry off humours, as swelled legs, grease, hidebound, &c. &c. There are four kinds of purging balls to be chosen from, according to the age, size, and strength of the animal, with the na- ture of the disease. Quittor: this disease may be cured by introducing some of the Strong Paste for Grease into the pipes of the wound, which will first core it out, and then heal it. Ringbones may be removed by the Blistering Oint- ment. Spavins may be the same, as also splents. Stable, the economy of the, is noticed in the Domes- tic Treatise. Strangles should have, the first two or three days, a Fever Powder every evening, and after that a Cordial Fever Ball. Surfeits may be always removed by a course of Al- terative Condition Powders. Thorough-pin may be cured as splents and spavins. Thrushes may be healed by pouring in some of the Strong Paste for Grease. Wind-galls may be attempted to be cured by bathing the parts with the Embrocation for Strains, and bandag- ing up. If this does not succeed, blister. Worms may be destroyed by a course of the Worm Powders sprinkled in the food. DOGS. Alteratives are very useful to dogs in removing mange, killing worms, and in promoting their condition, as well as cleansing their coats. Canker in the Ears: this disease is effectually cured by pouring in the Wash for Canker in the Ears, 60 Condition of Dogs: when dogs are out of condition, from mange, too full feeding, or foul coats, they may be brought round by a course of Mange Powders. Distemper: this prevalent disease may be removed in its worst stages by a fair trial of the Distemper Powders. Mange, in all its varieiies, may be at once cured by an application of the Mange Ointment. Physic: when dogs need physic, the best possible for them is the Condition Physic. Worms: the worms of dogs may be destroyed by the Worm Medicines. J. CARVER. 61 BLAINE'S GENUINE ANIMAL MEDICINES, Will be prepared by Dr. Carver. FOR HORSES. Cholic Balls. By cholic is here meant what is generally known by the name of gripes, or fret; and not red cholic, which is a more dangerous, but less frequent, complaint. For the gripes, these balls are very efficacious; and one alone, if given according to the copious directions accompanying it, seldom fails of giving instant and permanent relief. Persons keeping horses would find it their interest to have some of these balls always by them, as the disease is sud- den in its attack, and generally sirengthens by neglect. Cordial Balls. Persons in the habit of giving what are termed cordial balls on every occasion, are often guilty of error, for it is not every one of these cases that require cordials; and, even when they are proper, the substances usually given are, in fact, no cordials at all: a little anniseed, a few ju- niper berries, or turmeric, &c, can produce no las ing ef- fect on the constitution, except depraving the appetite; but when the circulation droops from excessive exertion, as in racing, hunting, &c, and hence becomes incapable of performing its proper functions, as eating, digesting, sleeping, &c, then a medicine that at once allays the ir- ritability of the constitution, and gives it str'ngth, will be of essential service. This is obtained by these balls, F 62 which, therefore, are of great use after severe exercise, as a long day's hunt, a hard contested race, a long jour- ney, or when a cold may be suspected to have been caught. These balls are particularly useful for tender flue horses, who on any unusual work refuse their food: they are likewise well adapted to prevent these tender horses from getting out of condition, which they are very apt to do on any fatigue, change of diet, or when moult- ing, in spring and fall. These and other cases wherein they may be advisable are specified at length in the di- rections enclosed within them. Cough Balls. The coughs which horses are subject to from being out of condition, from long continued colds, or that accom- pany thick wind, will always be relieved; and frequent- ly cured, by these balls; and in every instance of cough unaccompanied with fever I would strongly recommend them. Strong Diuretic Balls. Diuretics are useful in removing swelled legs, in re- solving inflammation, and 'promoting condition. When- ever, in either of these cases, an active but safe diuretic is required, I would recommend these. They are com- pounded of none of those rough substances that so fre- quently prove fatal, but in every case will act with safety, though actively: but when it is inconvenient to give balls, or a more slow and mild plan is thought prudent. Fever Cordial Balls. At the end of fevers, or towards the close of long and severe colds, or other lingering complaints, horses are fre- quently very low and faint: in these cases, the active in- 63 flamm&tory symptoms having ceased, these balls will give strength to the constitution to throw off the remains of the disorder, and perfect a recovery: but in the begin- ning of fevers, and other inflammatory affections, the fe- ver powders hereafter mentioned are preferable. Farcy Balls. A regular course of these balls, according to the direc- tions contained in the treatise accompanying them, in most cases effects a cure of this loathsome complaint, when it is within the reach of medicine. Strong Purging Balls. When brisk purging is deemed proper, as in swelled legs, general foulness, too great fatness, thick wind, or pursiveness, these balls will be found active: but, from the excellence of the aloes entering their composition, they will always prove safe; never raking the bowels, or producing those fatal gripes often the consequence of coarse, drastic, and badly compounded physic. Mild Purging Balls. In lesser horses, or in those more weak and delicate, or in any case where the operation of purging is required only to be very gentle, these balls will be found adequate to the purpose. Strong Mercurial Purging Balls. There are cases where the common forms of physic are not thought sufficient, but something that still more excites the absorbing vessels of the body is required: in tfiis case mercurial physic is given, of which the above 64 balls are of the very best kind. [See articles Physic and Purges, in The Domestic Treatise, fyc] Mild Mercurial Purging Balls. These are a milder form of the above, intended for small or more delicate horses.* Blistering Ointment, 50 cts. per pot. Blistering ointment may be, and very commonly is, chiefly prepared of euphorbium, corrosive sublimate, or other caustic substances; but, independent of the pain they give, and thereby reduce the condition of the horse, they very often act so deeply as to occasion a lasting blemish, and sometimes even more serious mischief. The above ointment is principally composed of Spanish flies, with a mild preparation of mercury added, to make it more certainly stimulate the absorbents; and is a very ex- cellent blister for strains, swellings, wind galls, curbs, spavins, splents, &c. Liquid Sweating Blister, 50 cts. per bottle. This is a warm stimulating application, that takes some time to produce its effect, and even in the end sel- dom raises a very active blister: it is therefore very pro- per to sweat away (as it is called) old chronic swellings of the back sinews, or to bathe and embrocate old strains; and, in fact, to apply to any part where it might be in- convenient to put a regular blister on. This liquid is likewise particularly fitted for injecting into old fistulous sores. * Balls of every description cannot be compounded for less than one dollar each, or 9,9 per dozen. 5o dogs in general could be taught to distinguish, with ease and accuracy, one disease from another, it would be a very desirable circumstance: and if to this was added, a ready mode of treating these diseases successfully, unfet- tered from the dryness and difficulty of a regular medical enquiry, by which these persons would be enabled to act promptly, in most common cases, without any other aid than what this plan affords; if all this could be effected, I shall be readily believed, when I say, that great and last- ing benefits would be derived from it. Now that what I have stated is possible, I hope to make appear in the following detail. In bringing forward this plan, and in vending ready prepared medicines, however excellent their composition, and however well adapted to the purposes intended, I shall be taxed with empiricism: but to this I do not plead guilty; for, in the first place, I will never make up any medicines for general distribu- tion, but for such complaints as appear, in most cases, un- der the same form, with the same symptoms; and that require, nearly in all cases, the same treatment. In the second place, I pretend to few secrets; though the re- cipes from which some of my medicines are compound- ed, I do believe, have never been before used, and some of the substances employed are nearly unknown; but, in the greater number of instances, I profess only to make use of generally approved drugs: but I claim to myself, that they are of the very best kind, judiciously arranged, properly compounded, and adapted to act successfully in the various cases they are prescribed for. Lastly, I may add, that, whenever Farriery is as well understood as hu- man medicine, and its practitioners as universally distri- buted throughout the United Kingdom, then my medicine plan shall cease. But, till this is brought about, I shall, I think, render some service to the public, by placing within their im- mediate reach good medicines, ready prepared, for the most prevalent of the diseases of horses and dogs; and, E 2 54 to do this in such a way as to prove as useful as I wish it, I shall proceed in the following manner. Many of the diseases of the horse and dog are well known to every one; others are more obscure: not only, therefore, must medicines be offered for diseases, but the means of distinguishing these diseases from each other must be taught; and it is in this that my plan differs from any previous one; and it is here that I hope to be more emi- nently useful to others, and consequently beneficial to myself. To effect this, inclosed with every medical compound which I offer, will be not only ample direc- tions for giving it, but a complete treatise on the com- plaint that article is intended for; describing its causes, its usual appearance, its progress, the varieties it exhi- bits, with the proper mode of treatment, not only as far as regards these medicines, but as regards every other re- medy that may with propriety be tried, either in prefer- ence to my own, or in case of its failure; and this, I pre- sume, an empiric medicine or nostrum never does. But as it is evident, that, till a particular medicine is bought, and hence these inclosed treatises obtained, a person having a sick animal may be at a loss what dis- ease to class it under; and, even though he should not, some other among the ready prepared medicines might be more proper, and as such he has laid his money out to no purpose; so it is necessary that there should be some key to the whole, whereby any one may become sufficiently acquainted with the usual appearances every disease puts on, enabling him thereby readily to distin- guish the particular malady his animal labours under: af- ter which he may judge for himself, and either use the ready prepared remedies recommended, or advert to the others mentioned at large in the description. This work, which I am publishing, is the result of many year's experience, and composed with much at- tention. It describes, alphabetically, all the diseases to which horses are subject, their causes, and symp- 55 toms; with the mode of cure at large, and a general enu- meration of the various remedies in general use for each complaint; at the same time remarking on those I would particularly recommend, and that may be obtained ready prepared. These various subjects are attempted in such a manner as to be perfectly clear to the comprehension of persons not medically educated, being divested of techni- cal terms and medical phraseology. It comprehends, likewise, after the diseases of the horse, those of the dog: in my attention to which I am a little peculiar, and hence this part is wholly novel. Here, likewise, I shall point out some remedies, ready prepared, that in my own practice I have used with success. To teach, therefore, the art of distinguishing the dis- eases of the horse and dog, to simplify the practice, and render the cure easy of attainment, is the object of this compendium: but as the remedies it prescribes are in many instances very difficult to be procured faithfully made up; or, even when made, it is impossible to answer either for the exactness or goodness of the composition; so, unless ready prepared remedies accompany this do- mestic vade mecum of farriery, its end and intention are but half answered. It is very difficult, in any place, to get a prescription of horse medicines faithfully compound- ed, from the expense of the drugs usually entering its composition, which, therefore, often occasions the quan- tity to be stinted. This is not the worst: the quality is as often defective; and it is very common to keep an as- sortment of indifferent or bad drugs purposely to make up horse medicines from: and, in the last place, unless a druggist is near, it is seldom a farrier (even if he has it in his power) will make up any other recipe than his own. To obviate these difficulties, therefore, this plan of teaching the diseases of these animals is accompanied by the means of cure; that is, that the medicines recom- mended in this practical treatise will be placed in the hands of all the respectable Medicine Venders throughout the 56 United States, ready compounded, in the most conve- nient form, from drugs not only excellent in quality, but correct as to quantity, faithfully and judiciously pre- pared by myself, from recipes the result of long experi- ence and extensive practice. At present the plan com- prehends not only the diseases of the Horse and Dog; but it includes those of Oxen and Sheep. 69 Worm Medicines, 50 cts. a half dozen. Worms in dogs, as in horses, are peculiarly hard to destroy, and are much more fatal to dogs than horses. The symptoms of worms in dogs are, loose slimy stools, and often frothy; a hard belly; a voracious appetite, though frequently a lean carcass; the hair stares; and sometimes the nose runs. It is likewise not unfrequent that the convulsive fits, which dogs are subject to, are brought on by worms. The above medicines I have given in these cases with the greatest success; and, when- ever there is reason to suspect worms, I would recom- mend them. Condition Physic, 25 cts. each. To get dogs into condition for hunting, to cool them, or when they are costive, physic is often given. For any of these purposes the above is very proper; and this is so made up, of different strengths, that the various ages, sizes, and strengths of dogs, may be exactly suited with the proper proportions. J CARVER. TKFEEINARY REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THAT DOMESTIC ANIMAL THE DOG, of acknowledged value to man; With various useful Hints how to keep him always in Health. The natural history of the Dog, and the account of his species and varieties, are extremely interesting; but with these in this little treatise we have nothing to do, as having no connexion with his diseases, which alone form the subject of our present investigation; and our means of information coming from characters of the first medi- cal standing in the first veterinary institutions of Europe, will no doubt render this little treatise of some value and consideration to every citizen generally; but to families where there are children, and the dog is kept, in parti- cular, as containing a useful warning to every one, whereby he may most readily ascertain, and that imme- diately, when a dog is going to take the disease. The medical enquiries of man have, till of late years, been almost exclusively confined to objects wherein his own health and safety have been concerned. Humanity to animals, however, to the credit of the present age, takes now a more extensive range, and will not limit our 71 future investigations even to the point at which it has been usual for the most enthusiastic veterinarian to stop: we mean that class of animals devoted to human suste- nance. Under these impressions, scanty, nay, contempt- ible, as our materials are, we cannot but state the little that even ignorance has recorded of the diseases of that faithful companion, the dog. Some preliminary obser- vations, however, may be necessary on the means of keeping that animal in health. This very much depends on their diet and lodging, frequently cleaning their kennels and beds; and giving them clean and fresh straw to lie on is very necessary, or, in summertime, deal shavings, or sand, instead of straw, will check the breeding of fleas.* If you also rub the dog with chalk, and brush and comb him once or twice a week, he will thrive much better. The chalk will clean his skin of all greasiness, and he will also be less liable to be mangy. A dog should never be without clean water by him, that he may drink when he is thirsty; and whenever you observe him the least inclining from his usual playfulness and vivacity, keep him immediately from all animal food, and confine him to a milk diet for ;hree or four days, with a little sulphur in it, and his vi- racity will soon return. on feeding of dogs. In regard to food, carrion is by no means proper. Bar- ley meal, or the dross of wheat or Indian flour, both mix- ed together with skimmed milk, is very good f3od for a dog. There is also a kind of stuff, called greaves, from * Tan, I should suppose, to be one of the best beds, both for horse and dog, in the world. 72 which the tallow is pressed by the chandlers, mixed with the flour, or sheep's trotters, well baked or boiled, are very good diet, and taken when you indulge them with flesh. It should always be boiled; and in the season of hunting they should always be fed the evening before, giving them nothing in the morning you intend taking them out, except a little milk; and if you stop for your own refreshment in the day, you should always first consider your dog, by refreshing him also with a little bread and milk. These animals, being of a hot constitution, eat what is of the greatest relief to them in summer, namely, twitch or dog grass; therefore plant some in or near the dwelling where the dogs can occasionally go; and when nature dictates that they want it, they will not only eat it, but feed freely on it, so as to fcure themselves of any little uneasiness or sickness they may be labouring under. I will convey a useful piece of information, of a late discovery of Mr. Curwens, whereby he has introduced into nearly all the kennels in England the feeding of hounds on steemed potatoes. The potatoes are steemed, and I think (as I cannot immediately lay my hand on the note) are mixed up with their broth, or any other kind of liquor which may be cooked for them. I shall, how- ever, say more on this subject at some future occasion. I will, however, venture to recommend, that if every sportsman would only take the trouble to entice and learn his puppies to eat occasionally boiled or steemed pota- toes, that he will not only find them the most fattening, but nourishing substance he can possibly give them. 73 THE most common accidents and diseases of DOGS ARE, Worms—Sore Feet—Strains and Bruises—Coughs and Colds—The Mange—Bites and Stings—Poison and Madness. 1. worms. Dogs are very frequently troubled with warms, but more particularly while they are young. Any thing bit- ter is most nauseous to these worms, so that they are very often voided by purging with aloes; and the best way of living this is, to give the dog, according to his size, age, and strength, 3, 4, or 5 antibilious pills, such as you take for yourself. This may be repeated about twice a week; or you may give him a dose of powdered tin, mixed up with butter, or the herb of savin, powdered fine, and as much as will lie on a shilling, for a single dose. I will, however, recommend abetter and more effectual cure for worms, and which I always use myself on those occa- sions, and which is a few grains of calomel on a piece of bread and butter. 2. of sore feet. \ pointer, or any hunting dog, should not be hunted more than three days in a week; and even then, unless you take care of his feet, and lodge him well, he. wiil not be able to carry you through the season. Therefore, take the trouble yourself ( to stand and see it done) after a G 74 hard day's hunt, to wash his feet in warm soap suds just as you would your own, and when wiped dry bathe them with an equal mixture of brandy and vinegar; keep also by you on those occasions, a bottle of charcoal powder made from burnt horse radish, and after a few applications of the above, sprinkle, while wet, about as much as a small pinch of snuff. During my long residence in India, I owned a num- ber of very valuable and fine dogs, and on this occasion, I never used any other medicine. It is a certain cure for all sore feet. 3. STRAINS AND BRUISES. Most dogs in forcing themselves through hedges and fences, &c. very often become lame, from a blow or from strains. Bathe the part with a strong solution of salt and vinegar, or the above application. If there should be a thorn, it must be immediately extracted, and a little tincture of myrrh and aloes sprinkled on the part. But if it should fester, you must still suspect some fo- reign body in the wound ; in such cases, if it fester, ap- ply a little common ointment mixed up with an equal quantity of bullock's gall. 4. OF COUGHS AND COLDS. Dogs are frequently subject to both these complaints, and very often with an extraordinary choking, which is 75 thought to arise from a cold, or some disorder not under- stood ; but if it should be a cold, bleed, and if what is called the Distemper should be suspected, and he should be low in spirits, and a very weak pulse, the bleeding must be omitted, and the direction as laid down in this treatise strictly adhered to. I have, however, on these occasions, very frequently used the following : Take of Flour sulphur, Sal nitre, and Cold drawn linseed oil, each an ounce and a half. Mix and divide this into six doses, giving a dose every other day for a week, with a spoonful of honey or mo- lasses; then omit a week and give the remainder, with a good bed to lay on. THE MANGE. The mange is a very common complaint among dogs, as well as horses, and arises only from neglect and filth, and being fed too high, without exercise, and with little or no opportunity of refreshing themselves with dog grass. This filthy complaint also sometimes arises Irom being starved at home, which causes them to eat the offal or carrion, or even human excrement. This of course must produce what is called heat ot blood, which always has a tendency to produce mange, which must be cured in the following manner The dog must be rubbed every other day with tl»r following mixture ■ 76 Take of Flour of sulphur . 1 oz. Train oil .... 1 pint Sapo .....4 oz. Spirit of turpentine . 1 oz 6. OF BITES AND STINGS. When your dog is so unfortunate as to be bit by snakes or stung by any wasp or hornet, give for the bite ten or fifteen drops of eau de luce, in a small wine glass of wa- ter, and repeat the dose every half hour, till he recovers. If stung, wash the part with the same. It will allay the pain immediately.* * Respecting the eau de luce, and its cure, I have it in my power to say more respecting it perhaps, than any medical man in this country, being in India, and on the hunting party with the honourable Frederick Fhz Roy, at the time he discovered it, and made it known to Dr. Anderson, of Madras. Suffice it to say, that by its general introduction in India, I have known thousands to be saved, having myself saved some hundreds of natives bitten by the hooded snake of India, during my residence at the Rung- pore India factory. In corroboration of the above assertion, I think I can with confidence say, that I am the first person who made it known to the Lite Dr. Ramsay of Charleston, who made many enquiries of me respecting its administration in India; and from which information that gentleman caused it to be published in all Almanacks of the United Stales. Some time after this, I learnt that Dr. Ramsay since that time had been instrumental in saving more than 300 persons, principally blacks on the planta- tions, by the eau de luce. The receipt is a valuable one, and is at the service of any person who chooses to call for it. I have been particular in mentioning this circumstance, knowing it to be one of the greatest specifics for the bite of all snakes, ever disco- vered. Mr. Genet, of Greenbush, in whose family 1 resided, had a little boy bitten by a copper headed snake, who I perfectly re- covered in this way in less than one hour from the time he was bitten. Common hartshorn will do, only the dose should be con- siderably increased, and often repeated, 77 7, OF POISONS. In all cases vomit your dog immediately, with a strong solution of salt and water, and give the above remedy immediately. HYDROPHOBIA. I cannot close the subject without some few remarks on the etymon of this word. The name of it, it appears, is derived from two words in the Greek language, signi- fying the dread of water; but which, as Mr. Blaine has, in the course of his essay, very satisfactorily proved to be a misnomer. Some veterinary surgeons who have written on this subject, have said that there are seven sorts of canine madness. 1. THE HOT BURNING MADNESS. This they call the most dreadful stage of hydropho- bia. 2. THE RUNNING MADNESS, Which is considered to be equally dangerous ; and every dog which is bitten of those in this stage and g2 78 draws blood will go mad. They generally bite all they meet, but particularly their own species; and it is also re- markable, that all dogs, even the most courageous, will fly at their approach; and, if unfortunately attacked, will howl and make every effort to disengage themselves. The hot burning madness, and the running madness, they say, are both known by the name of the Rabies. the animal being more furious and outrageous, and is very properly termed rabid by all medical men. 3. THE FALLING MADNESS. This disease is so called, on account of its lying, as he says, in the dog's head, which causes the animal to reel and fall down, which is often taken for fits. 4. THE SLEEPING MADNESS, Which they so term, because the drowsy nature of the dog gives him a constant inclination to sleep. And this disorder is said to be caused by little worms, that are bred in the dog's stomach. 79 5. THE DUMB MADNESS. This sort, it is said, lies in the dog's blood, and causes him to loathe his food. He keeps .his mouth constantly open, constantly rubbing his feet against the sides of it, as if he had a bone in his throat. 6. THE LANK MADNESS. This sort is termed lank madness, on account of the dog's leanness and pining away, and is by him consider- ed as incurable. 7. RHEUMATIC OR SLAVERING MADNESS. This sort, it is said, causes the dog's head to swell, and his eyes to appear yellow, with a constant slaver and dribbling of the mouth. However, as respects these several (or variety) of spe- cies of madness, I entertain not the least confidence, rely- ing solek on Mr. Blaine's practical experience of more than thirty years, to be the only true and most correct account ever written on the subject. However, I shall not fail, in the course of some experiments I am about to make on this disease, to try, both solely, and in con- junction with Mr. Blaine's receipt, a medicine whose 80 virtues I know to be very powerful, both on the vegeta- ble and mineral, as well as the animal powers. Hydrophobia, it is said, has been cured in Germany by laige doses of vinegar; but the efficacy of this and other supposed antidotes, particularly immersion, or salt water suffocation, has never been satisfactorily proved. 81 TESTIMONIES In favour of this work being placed in the hands of every family, as possessing the means of Curing and Prevent- ing Canine Madness. The London Medical Repository and Review of Octo- ber 1807, makes the following observations: " If the na- ture, the economy, and the habits of the lower animals be objects of interesting enquiry to the naturalist, and their anatomy to the medical philosopher, surely a knowledge of their diseases can neither be unimportant, nor unpro- fitable to the practitioner of the healing art. To one of the morbid affections of the dog, in particular, the atten- * tion of the profession has been forcibly impressed, by the awful consequences which result to man from the bite of the animal in that state; but hitherto the disease in the dog, which produces that in the man, has been scarcely investigated; although it appears obvious, that the more rational mode of examining into its nature, as it attacks man, would be first to trace it from its supposed origin in the dog. But if the examination of the nature of rabies in the dog has been overlooked, still more have been the diseases generally affecting this valuable, although hum- ble companion and servant of our species which have been neglected; and even the slightest attention to them has been most improperly regarded, not only as a waste of time, but as a professional degradation. As Mr. Blaine must have been, at one time, susceptible of these im- pressions, in common with every other member of the profession, we are not surprised that he should now re- flect, with some ' pride and self approbation,' that he is the first person in this country who has systematized and brought forward a regular medical treatment of die dis- eases of these animals, founded on a knowledge of their anatomy and animal economy; and we are satisfied that 82 those who peruse this work, will not only exonerate him from disgrace, but yield him their thanks; and that his exertions in the cause of the brute creation, will secure to him l the approbation of every humane and benevolent mind;'" and to justify this deviation from the regular track of his professional life, I shall, in this little vo- lume, give a short sketch of his professional life; which will contain some very interesting remarks, illustrative of the sagacity, and high moral qualities of this faithful companion of man. I will now mention some of the most important articles contained in this little volume, from the manuscript which I have very lately received from England; and trusting that it may prove of importance to the public, as being the probable means of saving the lives of many of my fellow-creatures. I shall lay them before the public just as they were transmitted to me. The advantage that Mr. Blaiuc has for ycais poabeaoed, In observing this and many other diseases, in all their bearings, and the mor- bid changes connected with them, in the system of the dog, have been, perhaps, never before enjoyed by any person; and when we consider his capability of profiting by the many and very extensive opportunities which he certainly enjoyed, the facts he has brought forward not only become interesting, but highly valuable. Mr. Blaine remarks, and that very justly, that the term hydrophobia, when applied to designate this disease in the dog, is highly exceptionable; since the animal, " in- stead of showing any dread of water, (as will be more fully detailed in Jhe body of the work,) in most in- stances, seeks it with avidity, and laps it incessantly." The body of this little work will also show that Mr. Blaine, by his timely precaution and foresight, was cer- tainly the means of saving the lives of three of his fellow- creatures, by his own precautions, which he laid before them; and which, fortunately for them, was strictly ad- hered to. Mi\ Blaine has certainly pointed out the absurd 83 and popular error in worming of dogs.* It will there= fore be seen, that as far as the dog is concerned, the term madness, although adopted by him in compliance with general prejudice, is by him regarded as improper. In other animals it may, however, with more propriety, be madness; for even the peaceable and innocent sheep be- come astonishingly ferocious in this disease. And in the horse, the sight is more terrific. Mr. Blaine also very justly remarks, that neither in the dog, nor in the human animal, ought we to place much reliance on any method of preventing the disease, after the bite has been inflicted, except by cutting out the part. In man this can always be effected; but in animals it is sometimes difficult to discover where they have been bit- ten;! and consequently he was desirous to discover some preventive of the attack; and he is fully persuaded, that the receipt subjoined in the body of the work, may be submitted to a fair trial on the dog. Mr. Blaine, in his various experiments tried on the occasion, (according to the following account) has made an improvement in the original receipt; which will be found copied (verbatim) from his own, as transmitted to me. Mr. Blaine further says, " during a long and successful practice, I have given this remedy to nearly 300 living beings." To the above testimonies may be added, that this work has been translated into French and Italian, by the order of the Veterinary Colleges of France and Italy; and the Moniteur of Paris contains a very copious review of this work, by Professor Peuchet, which ended in the following summary: " Nous pensons, a la maniere claire et simple dont l'au- teur a traite chaque object, qu'il a rempli son but; que cet * This I am willing at any moment to demonstrate to any gen- tleman in this city, who will apply to me for that purpose, by per- forming the operation -which so grossly deceives the looker on.—J. C. + I have, in one instance, saved the lives of eleven oxen out of fifteen, that were bitten in one night, by a mad dog, in India. 84 ouvrage a le double merite d'etre a la portee de tous les genres de lectures; que les personnes dont la profession est de faire la medicine des animaux se priveraient d'un grand secours, en negligeant de le consulter, dans une tres utile branche de 1'economie rural, celle de 1'edu- cation des bestiaux." FURTHER INTERESTING REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS ON TWO CASES OF CANINE MADNESS, Which happened in the City of Exeter, in the Month of July, i»15. TRANSMITTED TO ME BY A FRIEND OF DR. WHITE, VE- TERINARY SURGEON OF THAT CITY. DEAR SIR, Several very remarkable cases of Canine Madness have lately happened in and about this city. A dog that was seen to bite several others wandered about the coun- try, and in all probability he bit several others, several having been destroyed by the farmers, supposed to be so. The situation this first dog was seen in leaves no room to doubt of his having infected the second. This dog was noticed to be from home two nights and a day, after which he returned, and was secured. It has not, how- ever, been accurately ascertained what mischief he did during his rambles. This dog, however, died about the seventh day. The first dog having been destroyed, a notice of the circumstance was issued by the mayor, requesting the in- habitants of Exeter and the surrounding county to confine h So' their dogs; they were, however, in defiance of this no- tice, still suffered to run about the street. However, when it was known that the second dog had died mad, the mayor published a handbill, offering a re- ward of half a crown a head for every dog seen running at large in the streets: and I mention this circumstance merely to show how inattentive people frequently are to matters of the greatest importance; and how little aware they seem to be of the magnitude of the danger, which this prudent precaution of the mayor was intended to avert. In the year of 1810, I think it was, so many cases of canine madness occurred in the city of London, that the physicians and surgeons of the London hospital repre- sented to the house committee of that institution, that within the last three months two cases of hydrophobia had been received into the hospital; and that many in- stances of the same fatal and dreadful disorder, within a short period, had come to their knowledge; and that se- veral persons as well as animals had been bitten by dogs unquestionably mad; and that, in their opinion, it was highly necessary that the facts should be stated to per- sons in high authority, in order that proper measures should be taken for the public safety. A report was ac- cordingly made to government, and a copy of it sent to the Mansion House; in consequence of which, a suitable notice was immediately issued by the lord mayor. It has been' observed, that this dreadful calamity has been more frequent of late years than it formerly was; and which will not appear so extraordinary, when it is considered how many useless dogs are suffered to run about at large, and the little caution that is used even after a mad dog has been known to bite several animals. The incipient stages of the disease have been marked by mam writers with the loss of appetite, indifference, listlessnoss, and melancholy; but these cannot be relied on, and attend other complaints to which dogs are fre- 87 quently liable. Neither have they the least dread of fluids, and often eat voraciously. This, Mr. Daniel 1 observes, is a fact of great import- ance, as it points out the dangerous policy of considering hydrophobia, or a dread of wrUer, as a leading character- istic of rabies; and Mr. Blaine's and Mr Gillman's remarks are corroborated by other practitioners of ve- raci'y. Dr. Clark of Nottingham also relates a case, in that neighbourhood, of a dog that was not suspected to labour under rabies, until ten days after he had bitten an unfor- tunate person, who, in six weeks after the bite, died of hydrophobia. This dog ate and drank heartily, showed no signs or disposition, hunted as usual, and occasionally went into a neighbour's house among children, without injuring them;* but on the morning of the tenth day, (that is, ten days after he had communicated the disease by the bite,) he was seen snapping at every dog in the street, and was in consequence destroyed. I have, says Mr. Gillman, had several patients, who were bitten by dogs decidedly mad; and which ate and drank only a few minutes before, and after they had committed the act; consequently, on such statements there can be no dependence; for as the disease advances, the dog becomes extremely impatient, and has an inor- dinate desire to gnaw every thing around him. And he is now seized with a more "than usual antipathy to cats. And when chained or confined, he makes the greatest ef- fort to get loose; and if successful, he wanders about, seeking other animals to bite; but more particularly his * How important in a case of this kind, that some one of the f-imilv should be acquainted with the symptoms of madness, as hid down by Mr. Rhine, which so readily would place it in every one's power to detect them. Who knows, but if one of those children had in a playful attitude lifted a stick to strike this dog, then unknown to be labouring-under the complaint, but he might have bit one of them, which in all probability might have been the cause of the child's death. 88 own species: and from a bite in this stage of the disorder, the consequence is most to be dreaded; and the greatest care should be taken to avoid him. It has been a generally received opinion, that he moves not out of the road to bite any one; but this apparent in- difference never takes place until he is nearly exhausted by the disease, and becomes incapable of the effort; for while he is most active, he is industriously seeking for different objects to bite, and to which his attention seems wholly directed. It will, however, afford some consola- tion to those who may be so unfortunate as to be bit by a mad dog, and unable to procure medical assistance, that there is some certainty of preventing the disease, by hav- ing sufficient fortitude to extirpate the part,* even though * It may be necessary to remark here, that having, during my re- sidence in India, had frequent occasion to perform this operation on the human subject, as well as cattle, I will propose here, for the consideration of all medical men, and others, the following method, which 1 at last had recourse to. In the year 1800, while residing at Rungpore, under the Nepaul mountain, I had several occasions to operate in this way; but one night in particular, two mad dogs made their appearance in the factory, and in their rounds round the factory, they bit two men, one woman, and fifteen haikr,-y bullocks. This circumstance took place about twelve o'clock at night, in the month of October of that year. The weather 1 re- member was excessively warm; the thermometer in my Bungalow was then standing 99°, (a circumstance not uncommon in that coun- try.) About four in the morning', a Matraeny woman of low cast, with several of her acquaintance, came to the Bungalow, saying that she, her husband, and her son, had been all bitten, and that they had learnt from the Chocliedars, (the watchmen) of the fuc- tory, that fifteen bullocks had also been bitten. The woman ap- peared much frightened, and said she would die. I immediately endeavoured to prevail on her to let me extirpate the part: this so much alarmed her, that it was near 5 o'clock in the morning be- fore I could prevail on her to consent; but which, after a great deal of persuasion, she consented to permit being done. She was bit- ten in the fleshy part of her left buttock; which being a pretty fleshy part, and though at that time ignorant of anatomy, I con- eluded there could be but little danger in cutting pretty deep. Having therefore confined the woman, I took my penknife, and ex- tirpated the part to the depth of about an inch and a half, carrying i 89 two or three days should elapse: however, the sooner the part is cut out the better. It has been observed, says the same author, that, from every account given from those who have been bitten, there is a peculiar substance my knife round, giving the part cut away the appearance of half the size of a pullet's egg; it bled pretty freely, which 1 suffered it to do for the space of three or four minutes; and having spunged away the remaining blood on the wound, Ifilled the hole up with gunpowder, which I touched with a lighted segur, and flashed it off. I took this method in preference to the actual cautery, (hot iron) thini. ing /hat it -would be more momentary, and thereby attended with less pain. The place was afterwards treated as a common wound, which 1 dressed with turpentine ointment; and the part healed in a few days. The two men, her son, and husband, being so much alarmed at the operation, would not suffer it to be performed on them. Eleven of the bullocks were bitten nearly in the same place, as they lay chc wing their cud ; the remainder were bitten in the legs and other tendonous pans, which obliged me to leave them 10 their unfortunate fate. But the eleven which were all bitten in a fleshy part, 1 operated on in the same way by the gunpowder: and they remained on the factory without any thing happening to them ; but the remaining four, which were left to their fate, in about three weeks afterwards, began to show symptoms of disorder and vio- lence against their drivers, so that I thought it prudent to kill them. Respecting the fate of the son "and husband, they quit my em- ploy with the woman operated on, and arrived at Mooshedebad be- tween five and six weeks after the occurrence at the factory. The son, it appears by the mother's story, began to show some symp. toms of uneasiness two or three dr.ys before their arrival; but on the night of their arrival he died raving mad. The old man, her husband, whether from fright at the death of their son, or from other causes, was, in the course of five days from the death of his son, taken in the same way, and died mad also. The old woman on whom the operation was performed at the factory, was taken ill also, and remained so for several days; but she recovered, and travelled on down to Calcutta, where she again entered into my employ, and remained until the December following, of 1801; be- ing a space of fifteen months. I am, probably, the first person who may have had recourse to the application of the cautery in this way, by gunpowder. And if on any future occasion, this mode of operation should be preferred, either in such cases, or in any case of tetanus in the human subject, Where it might,be thought advisable to perform it, I hhail be glad. I have been thus particular as respects circumstances, not only as it may prove as a useful hint for further trial, both on man and brute, H 2 1)0 in the bitten parts, preceding the accession of the disease, though the wound has been completely healed; from which circumstance there is great reason to hope, that the removal of the part may be of great service, even after a considerable interval of time, and consequently, it should, if possible, always be done. Mr. Giliman further observes, (and very justly,) that in the determination of the question as to the precise time when the extirpation of the parts affected by the bite may be performed, it is of great importance to consider whe- ther the poison does not always remain in the substance where it is first diffused, until, by inflammation, or some other cause, a sufficient dose is generated to infect the whole system. Indeed, the notorious connection of a painful and in- flamed state of the original wound, immediately preced- ing the constitutional symptoms, warrants this supposition, and points out the expediency of removing, or destroying the infected part to the last, even though hydrophobia should have commenced. He also adds, that the excision should embrace a large portion of the surrounding parts, when the perivel from the inflection of the wound is much protracted. A dog that died mad, was carefully examined, and it was found, that the stomach was the only organ that showed any morbid appearances, except that there ap- peared to be a slight inflammation in the pia mater, (a delicate membrane investing the brain.) This was exactly the case with several mad dogs that but to shew also, in opinion with my worthy colleague, Professor Blaine, that the vims or poison which we allow to become absorbed, does lay dormant for some time before, and that for different lengths of time, before it makes its second appearance; and which certainly was the case in the old man and his son. Quere. Let us now suppose that if the old man had been re- moved from being present at a sight of his son's death, is it not probable that the virus might have laid a longer lime in the sys- tem before it made its appearance ? SI were examined at the Veterinary College during mv resi- dence at that institution. " Mr. Meynell, a celebrated sportsman, who has made many very judicious remarks on mad dogs, has given a very accurate description of this dreadful disorder, and which also appears to be the result of some experience. He says, that he is fully persuaded that the disorder ne- ver originates from hot weather, putrid provision, or from any other cause but the bite. And he thinks one of the most certain signs of approaching madness, is an unusual disposition to quarrel with other dogs; and that the disorder comes on gradually, and that mischief may always be prevented by proper care and strict adherence and observation on the dog's habits about the house, those symptoms detailed in the body of this work. Cold bathing, in the opinion of Mr. Meynell, and others, has, it seems, held a high reputation also as a pre- ventive, as well as a remedy; and the following recorded on that occasion. It seems that about two hundred years ago, a profes- sor by the name of Seignor d'Esparron, relates a won- derful instance of a mad dog being thrown into a river, with a cord about his neck, which, getting entangled in the root of a tree, kept him under water, except as much of his nose as enabled him to breathe. In this situation he remained for three days, when he got loose, and* re- turned to his master's house, as cheerful and healthy as ever. Mr. Meynell further observes, that as we are not hitherto acquainted with any certain cure for this dread- ful complaint, prevention and those precautions laid down in the body of this work, are objects of great im- portance; and the only effectual mode of doing this, ap- pears to be, cut out the bitten part completely, and apply either the actual cautery (red hot iron) or some other powerful caustic, and nothing short of this, together with the dose prescribed, should ever be relied upon. As it respects worming, I can with confidence as a TO THE PUBLIC. Dr. Carver, Veterinary Surgeon, respectfully informs the citizens of Philadelphia, and the inhabitants of the surrounding country, that he shall at all times feel happy to wait attendance on those who may be so unfortunate as to be bitten. It is at the same time necessary to observe, when so unfortunate an occurrence does happen, that no time should be lost in the application. As respects the cure by inoculation, I have myself, in repeated instances, inoculated puppies with the vaccine virus, and never have I in any instance known them to suffer with the distemper. In Russia, and in France, we have accounts of its being a sure preventive for the rot in sheep, as well as the distemper in dogs. This circum- stance also can be confirmed by several respectable gen- tlemen of this city, who have inoculated puppies of their own, and who will, if necessary, come forward to testify the same. In a few days will be ready for sale, at DOHSON'S, M. THOMAS'S, and LITTELL & HENRY'S, Tlie Pathology of the Horse's Eye; B.'ing demonstrative of its various Diseases, showing their causes, symptoms, best mode of treatment, cure, and prevention; interesting to the gentleman, the sportsman, the farmer, the gra- zier, the stable keeper, and all owners of mail stages, and wag- gon establishments. ALSO, The Pathology of the different Lamenesses TO WHICH THE LEGS AND FEET OF THE HORSE ARE SUBJECT. Demonstrative of the curative means of cure and prevention; shewing forth an entire new method of Casting Horses, with- out difficulty, danger, or injury. With Plates of the Patent Hob- bles and Legs of the Horse, shewing their seat ot Blood, and Bone Spavin, Wind-gall, Ringbone, Curb, Splint, &c. with the College Medical Receipts how to treat them. J ALSO, NOW IN THE PRESS, THE SECOND EDITION <>►' Tlie Age of tlie Horse, WITH TWO ESSAYS ON FOUNDER AND CONTRACTION. With new and additional matter and Plates, just received from the Veterinary institutions of Europe ; being demonstrative that the Hot and Cold Baths, invented and introduced by Dr. Carver into this country, is the only sure means of curing and preventing Founder and Contraction. Those Gentlemen, and the Proprietors of Public Stables, who have introduced into their establishments Dr. Carver's Patent Bath, -re respectfully infrrnvV., that his A*niver«al Vapour Bath for the cure of (Tetanus Lpck Jaw and tnflammat on generally, is now budding, and will be soon ready for the reception of such horses as mav stand in need of 'u A-.lmitt; nee g25. Admission'for everv horse into the Vapour Ventilated Bath will be S25 The Certificates of Dr. Carver's Bath are now publish- ing; and those gentlemen who have adopted it will please to ap- ply for the same. Di. Carveb commences his Travelling Course of Lectures on the Bail,, Foun.ler. :i-id Contraction, and the Foot ot the living H'.'so or or •«l.out the first of next month; also on Worms and Boo die Ag.-, the Eve. Lamenesses, Inflammations, Sx.: all ot which will be demonstrated by transparencies as large as life VxM mm