e. The larger class, of
course, are those inoculated by the bite of rabid animals, but we also
have a few who are infected by the rabid saliva accidentally coming in
contact with wounds already produced. In these accidental eases the
disease is almost as likely to result as in those to whom the virus is
directly communicated by the bite." The wounds considered most dangerous
are the recent fresh wounds. The possibility of infection decreases with
the formation of the new connective tissue which protects the ends of the
broken nerve fibres. One must remember, however, that wounds over joints,
especially on the hands, are likely to remain open for some time. A dog
ill of this disease can give the disease to man through licking a wound.
Such a case has been recorded. This dog licked the child's hands before it
was known to be mad. The child died from the disease. As stated before
ninety per cent of the cases are inoculated by the bites of rabid animals.

[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 243]

The wounds are considered according to their severity and location.
Lacerating, tearing wounds upon uncovered surfaces, especially the head,
are the most dangerous. This is due to the fact of the closeness of the
brain and the large amount of infection in such a wound, and for this
reason treatment should be immediately given. But smaller wounds should
also be treated for the smallness of the wound furnishes no sure criterion
as to the future outcome of the disease. All possible infections should be
regarded as dangerous when considering the advisability of taking the
Pasteur Treatment. The small wound has usually a longer period of
incubation, because of the small amount of infection, still it may cause a
fatal termination. A dog never develops rabies from a lack of water or
from being confined or overheated during the summer months. A spontaneous
case of rabies has never been known. It must be transmitted from animal to
animal and the history of the case will point to a previous infection by a
diseased animal.

Where rigid quarantine rules exist the disease does not occur. In
Australia they quarantine every dog, that comes to that country, for six
months, and in consequence they have never had a case of rabies. In Russia
they have had many cases. In Constantinople the disease frequently "runs
riot." France has lost as many as 2,500 dogs in one year. Before the
Pasteur Treatment was instituted (in 1885) there was an average of sixty
deaths