6; n the Hydrophobia.[July

had no ſmall ſhare in foſtering the apathy and indolent ſtupidity of the people. It may be. remarked by a curious obſerver, that our medical faculty, however learned, has ever been pre-eminent for the haſty adoption, and pertinacious defence of the moſt ab- ſurd, unphiloſophical, and even ridiculous opinions; and if, Sir, the nature of your Miſcellany would admit of profeſſional diſ- cuſlión in that line, L could confirm my propoſition with 2 cloud of proofs, ancient and modern, from Bumbafſtus and Van Helmont to-the Prince of Quacks, John Brown, whoſe rafh and indiſ- criminating theories have made more fops and ideots than the art magic 5 to the ſhrewd and indefatigable#**#*%*** who ſo well knows how to turn to account the inſatiate, never-failing itch for novelty in the people. Phyſicians have held the frange, or rather inſane opinion, that canine madneſs is incommunicable to the human ſpecies; that there 1s, in reality, no other danger in the bite of a rabid animal than ſimply that of a wound; and its common conſeguences, if we except the ill eŒÆ&s which mere apprehenſion may induce in ſuſceptible and irritable minds.— They have ventured to publiſh, and even circulate with induſtry, Tuch perilous opiates among the people. Can more convincing proofs be required than the number of inſtances, and that a true and legitimate rabies was never otherwiſe produced than from the bite of a dog, or of ſome other rabid animal?‘ The example of Egypt, and other Southern Countries, has been urged, where no ſuch diſeaſe has ever been known to afflMi& the human race, in conſequence of the bite of dogs, or any other animals; but with this ougkt to be included, that neither are the animals of theſe countries ever ſubjei to madneſs, which, with brutes, ſeems to be 2 ſeptentrional diſeaſe. z

Did but one inftance of the horrid diſeaſe. under ſpeculation occur in a century, it would warrant the moſt rigid precautions. In the firſt place, no. country ought to entertain ſupernumerary dogs, nor ſhould any be fufered, by a family, to go at large, one mament after the diſcovery of their approach to a fate of diſeaſe. To venture at prefcriptions, in this caſe, is a taſk peculiarly, and on all accounts, diſcouraging. As to the animals, nothing can be oftered, with the ſmaileit aſſurance of ſucceſs, but preventive remedies; and, at the‘head of theſe, in my opinion, ſtands sUL- PHUR, occaſionally given in ſkimmed milk, once or twice, daily, during ſix or ſeven ſucceſſive days, to thoſe dogs or cats, more particularly, which are conſtantly well fed. This medicine per- ſevered in, at proper ſeaſons, will indubitably have ſalutary effes upon the blood, upon the nervous and cuticular ſyſtem of the animal; and, in good probability, prevent thoſe exacerbations of

the diſeaſe, Mould it aGually ſupervene, which lead to ſuch fatal accidents. I can‘farther corroborate the theory," by obſerving, that it met the full approbation of my late learned and regretted