The mad dog does not usually foam at the mouth to any great extent at
first. The mucus of the mouth is not much increased in quantity, but
it soon becomes thicker, viscid, and glutinous, and adheres to the
angles of the mouth, fauces and teeth. It is at this period that the
thirst is most ardent, and the dog sometimes furiously attempts to
detach the saliva with its paws; and if after a while it loses its
balance in these attempts and tumbles over, there can no longer be any
doubt as to the nature of the malady. There is another symptom
connected with the mouth in that form of the disease named "dumb
madness" which has frequently proved deceptive. The lower jaw drops in
consequence of paralysis of its muscles, and the mouth remains open.
The interior is dry from the air passing continually over it, and
assumes a deep red tint, somewhat masked by patches of dust or earth,
which more especially adhere to the upper surface of the tongue and to
the lips. The strange alteration produced in the dog's physiognomy by
its constantly open mouth and the dark colour of the interior is
rendered still more characteristic by the dull, sad, or dead
expression of the animal's eyes. In this condition the creature is not
very dangerous, because generally it could not bite if it
tried--indeed there does not appear to be much desire to bite in dumb
madness; but the saliva is none the less virulent, and accidental
inoculations with it, through imprudent handling, will prove as fatal
as in the furious form. The mouth should not be touched,--numerous
deaths having occurred through people thinking the dog had some
foreign substance lodged in its throat, and thrusting their fingers
down to remove it. The sensation of tightness which seems to exist at
the throat causes the dog to act as if a bone were fixed between its
teeth or towards the back of its mouth, and to employ its fore-paws as
if to dislodge it. This is a very deceptive symptom, and may prove
equally dangerous if caution be not observed. Vomiting of blood or a
chocolate-coloured fluid is witnessed in some cases, and has been
supposed to be due to the foreign substances in the stomach, which
abrade the lining membrane; this, however, is not correct, as it has
been observed in man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account