In the large majority of instances the dog is inoffensive in the early
period of the disease to those to whom it is familiar. It then flies
from its home and either dies, is killed as "mad," or returns in a
miserable plight, and in an advanced stage of the malady, when the
desire to bite is irresistible. It is in the early stage that
sequestration and suppressive measures are most valuable. The dogs
which propagate the disease are usually those that have escaped from
their owners. After two or three days, frequently in about twelve
hours, more serious and alarming symptoms appear, ferocious instincts
are developed, and the desire to do injury is irrepressible. The
animal has an indefinable expression of sombre melancholy and cruelty.
The eyes have their pupils dilated, and emit flashes of light when
they are not dull and heavy; they always appear so fierce as to
produce terror in the beholder; they are red, and their sensibility to
light is increased; and wrinkles, which sometimes appear on the
forehead, add to the repulsive aspect of the animal. If caged it flies
at the spectator, emitting its characteristic howl or bark, and
seizing the iron bars with its teeth, and if a stick be thrust before
it this is grasped and gnawed. This fury is soon succeeded by
lassitude, when the animal remains insensible to every excitement.
Then all at once it rouses up again, and another paroxysm of fury
commences. The first paroxysm is usually the most intense, and the
fits vary in duration from some hours to a day, and even longer; they
are ordinarily briefer in trained and pet dogs than in those which are
less domesticated, but in all the remission is so complete after the
first paroxysm that the animals appear to be almost well, if not in
perfect health. During the paroxysms respiration is hurried and
laboured, but tranquil during the remissions. There is an increase of
temperature, and the pulse is quick and hard. When the animal is kept
in a dark place and not excited, the fits of fury are not observed.
Sometimes it is agitated and restless in the manner already described.
It never becomes really furious or aggressive unless excited by
external objects--the most potent of these, as has been said, being
another dog, which, however, if it be admitted to its cage, it may not
at once attack. The attacked animal rarely retaliates, but usually
responds to the bites by acute yells, which contrast strangely with
the silent anger of the aggressor, and tries to hide its head with its
paws or beneath the straw. These repeated paroxysms hurry the course
of the disease. The secretion and flowing of a large quantity of
saliva from the mouth are usually only witnessed in cases in which
swallowing has become impossible, the mouth being generally dry. At
times the tongue, nose and whole head appear swollen. Other dogs
frequently shun one which is rabid, as if aware of their danger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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