Hydrophobia, a dread of water; is a symptom of the disease caused by the bite of a mad animal; but not

peculiar to this disease, nor always attendant on it. The disorder has usually had the same appellation, and is called also canina rabies, cynanthropia, cynolesia. Dr. James. observes, that this kind of madness properly belongs to the canine genus, viz. dogs, foxes, and wolves, to whom only it seems innate and natural; scarcely ever appearing in other animals, except communicated from these. Dr. Heysham defines it to be an aversion and horror at liquids, as exciting a painful convulsion of the pharynx, occurring at an indetermined period, after the canine virus has been received into the system.

The hydrophobia is a nervous dis order, though attended with some appearances of inflammation. Dr. Cullen places it in the class neuroses, and order spasmi, and defines it a loathing and great dread of drinking any liquids, from their creating a painful convulsion of the pharynx, occasioned most commonly by the bite of a mad animal. This definition, however, scarcely includes the full idea of the disease; and we would suggest the following as more complete: melancholy, a dread of cold air, of any thing shining, and particularly of water, often arising from the bite of a mad animal. He distinguishes two species.

1.Hydrophobia rabiosa, when there

. We received this letter last month, but too late for insertion; and though the alarm to which it refers has, fortunately, now almost totally subsided, we think it will still be acceptable to our readers,

is a desire of biting, from being bitten by a mad animal.

2. Hydrophobia simplex, without rabies, or a desire of biting.

The principal and original seat seems to be about the stomach, and parts contiguous to it.

of a mad dog produces the disease. The smallest quantity of the saliva period, differing according to the The infection may lie dormant for a habit of the patient, the time of the animal, or the place in which the year, the degree of the disease in the wound is made. If the patient is not of a strong inflammatory habit, and no circumstances intervene, which otherwise affect his health, it seldom takes effect till after about forty days: if in six weeks, or two months, no sign of disorder appears, be safe. It has been observed, that the patient is usually concluded to the nearer the place bitten is to the head, the sooner the symptoms appear. If the part bitten is covered with woollen or leather, the bite is harmless. The dread of water is a symptom in some fevers, and in some particular inflammations (Edinburgh Medical Commentaries, vol. xi. p. 331); and it is highly probable, that in those cases where the poison is said to lie dormant for six disease was connected with fever or nine months, or even a year, the rather than the rabid poison.

When a dog is affected with madness, he becomes dull, solitary, and endeavours to hide himself, seldom barking, but making a murmuring noise, and refusing all kinds of meat and drink. He flies at strangers; but, in this stage, he remembers and respects his master: his ears and head hang down; he walks as if overpowered with sleep; and a bite at this period, though dangerous, seldom conveys the disease. After these symptoms, the dog begins to pant; he breathes quick and heavy;

calamity: the thirst excites a desire of drink, but he strives in vain to swallow, and soon sinks into the most affecting despondency; he advises his friends to keep at a distance, and it is supposed that he feels an inclination to bite; but this is suspicion only, and it is highly improbable that, with the disease of a dog, he should adopt his manners: biting is the common method by which that animal shows his resentment. The barking like a dog is equally imaginary. As the conclusion approaches, the fever and thirst increase; the eyes are bright and furious; the urine is high coloured, acrid, and in small quantities; the tongue hangs out; the mouth foams; the pulse throbs, strength fails, cold sweats come on, the tightness of the breath increases, and the patient soon expires in spasms, often losing the difficulty of swallowing liquids, for many hours; so that the dread of water is by no means a pathognomonic symptom.

The poison of rabid animals is, like that of the smallpox, secondary in its operation. It lies concealed till, perhaps, by an assimilatory process, its quantity is increased, or from the heat of the body it becomes more active. It is sufficiently certain, that if the part is extirpated soon after the bite, the patient is safe: it is highly probable that the same operation at the first commencement of the inflammation would be equally advantageous.

The disease in dogs is not owing to heat, but is probably produced by their confinement in kennels. In man the disease is exclusively owing tothe poison introduced by the wound; but its action is said to be accelerated, probably increased, by fear, gricf, or any of the depressing passions. The prognosis is always unfavourable.

If in a disease where remedies are

so uncertain we were to draw any prophylactic indications, they would be, first, to prevent the poison from acting, though it exists in the body; secondly, to evacuate it by the most/ speedy methods.

This disease is peculiarly rare. Somé practitioners of the most extensive experience have never seen it; and some have boldly dated its existence. In general, very few of the dogs reputed to be mad are really so; and but a small proportion of those bit by a dog, really mad, receive the infection, as the parts are usually defended by the clothes, and the teeth of the animal are consequently wiped clean before the wound is inflicted. This circumstance has given a delusive credit to many trifling preparations employed as prophylactics. None are to be trusted except excision.

Nature is able to evacuate morbid poisons, if the animal power is supported, or at least no cause of debility gives the poison activity. We should therefore avoid whatever may depress or weaken, and employ every plan to give a tone to the system. The depressing passions are consequently to be counteracted; and should the patient's mind rest on the circumstarces of the bite, it should be cheered by every encouraging representation. Perhaps the ridiculous specifics, as eating the liver of the dog broiled, or tying the skin of an hyæna about the arm, may have been useful by inspiring confidence; and avoiding cold and excesses of every kind must be advantageous in every view. Stimulants are useful_with the same design; and numerous are the remedies of this kind recommended by the ancients, though condemned by Boerhaave.

We may evacuate the poison from the wound by sucking, by washing it with hot water, by cutting it out, by bleeding with cupping-glasses, by

enlarging the wound, increasing the discharge with suppurating applications, by burning it with gunpowder, or destroying an absorbing surface by a caustic. Each has been employed, and each has had its partisans; but to cut out the part is the only certain remedy, and it is certain at any period previous to the inflammation If the wound is inflicted so, deep that the bitten part cannot be separated, a caustic must be applied to what remains; and though we thus lessen the chance of relief, we should reflect that, at the depth of the wound, the tooth has already lost its venom. Yet such are the horrid consequences, that even the loss of a limb would, in the event of a violent wound from a dog, certainly mad, cheaply purchase security.

It has been supposed that the organs may be sheathed with oil, and absorption prevented, or the acrimony of the poison covered. This plan too has flattered and disappointed practitioners; and the Ormskirk medicine, which is principally an antacid, has had no better

success.

When the disease has come on, it has been the object of practitioners to sooth the early symptoms of irritation by opium, or to assist the natural discharge by the more active exhibition of mercurials. Dr. Rush, in bis reveries respecting inflammation, thought t's disease also inflammatory, and proposed active bleeding. We can trace this remedy in the History of the Academy of Sciences at Paris for the year 1699, p. 58, recommended by Poupart; and we find it also mentioned in the Medical Essays of Edinburgh, vol. 5. part ii. § 51. This also has failed. Later authors have called hydrophobia a putrid fever, and given bark in large quantities, but with the same suc

cess.

Opium seems to rest on more ra

tional principles, and two grains, or even a larger dose, given every three hours, seem to have relieved the symptoms, but has done no more. A ptyalism, rapidly excited, and steadily continued, has scarcely succeeded better; and the vinegar, of which four ounces have been directed three times a day, has equally failed. In short, full, effectual, and COMPLETE EXCISION of the wounded part is the only certain means of relief; AND THIS IS CERTAIN.

PATTERN for an ORNAMENT for a CHIMNEY-PIECE.

AS we have been requested by several of our FAIR CORRESPONDENTS, among others by the lady who signs Dorothée, to give a pattern for an ornament for a chimneypiece; and as we are ever desirous to comply with the requests of our readers as far as in our power; we have this month presented them with a pattern of this kind, and intend occasionally to give such.

With respect to the colouring, ladies may exercise their own ingenuity and taste. In the original from which the present pattern was engraved, the figures in the medallion were washed over with a colour composed of gamboge, and a small portion of carmine or lake; those on the sides, and the ornament at the bottom, were coloured to represent bronze, with a mixture of yellow, blue, and black.

ACCOUNT of the TRIAL of SIR HOME POPHAM, by a COURT MARTIAL held on board his Majesty's Ship Gladiator, in Portsmouth Harbour, on Monday, March 6th, &c. on a Charge exhibited against him for quitting