The rabid dog, if lodged in a room or kept in a house, is continually
endeavouring to escape; and when it makes its escape it goes freely
forward, as if impelled by some irresistible force. It travels
considerable distances in a short time, perhaps attacking every living
creature it meets--preferring dogs, however, to other animals, and
these to mankind; cats, sheep, cattle and horses are particularly
liable to be injured. It attacks in silence, and never utters a snarl
or a cry of anger; should it chance to be hurt in return it emits no
cry or howl of pain. The degree of ferocity appears to be related to
natural disposition and training. Some dogs, for instance, will only
snap or give a slight bite in passing, while others will bite
furiously, tearing the objects presented to them, or which they meet
in their way, and sometimes with such violence as to injure their
mouth and break their teeth, or even their jaws. If chained, they will
in some cases gnaw the chain until their teeth are worn away and the
bones laid bare. The rabid dog does not continue its progress very
long. Exhausted by fatigue and the paroxysms of madness excited in it
by the objects it meets, as well as by hunger, thirst, and also, no
doubt, by the malady, its limbs soon become feeble; the rate of
travelling is lessened and the walk is unsteady, while its drooping
tall, head inclined towards the ground, open mouth, and protruded
tongue (of a leaden colour or covered with dust) give the distressed
creature a very striking and characteristic physiognomy. In this
condition, however, it is much less to be dreaded than in its early
fits of fury, since it is no longer capable or desirous of altering
its course or going out of its way to attack an animal or a man not
immediately in the path. It is very probable that its fast-failing
vision, deadened scent, and generally diminished perception prevent
its being so readily impressed or excited by surrounding objects as it
previously was. To each paroxysm, which is always of short duration,
there succeeds a degree of exhaustion as great as the fits have been
violent and oft repeated. This compels the animal to stop; then it
shelters itself in obscure places--frequently in ditches by the
roadside--and lies there in a somnolescent state for perhaps hours.
There is great danger, nevertheless, in disturbing the dog at this
period; for when roused from its torpor it has sometimes sufficient
strength to inflict a bite. This period, which may be termed the
second stage, is as variable in its duration as the first, but it
rarely exceeds three or four days. The above-described phenomena
gradually merge into those of the third or last period, when symptoms
of paralysis appear, which are speedily followed by death. During the
remission in the paroxysms these paralytic symptoms are more
particularly manifested in the hind limbs, which appear as if unable
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