To these mistakes we must impute the frequent ill success of the medicines used for preventing the effects of the bite of a mad dog. It is not owing so much to a defect in medicine, as to wrong applications. I am persuaded, if proper medicines were administered immediately after the bite is received, and continued for a sufficient length of time, we should not lose one in a thousand of those who have the misfortune to be bit by a mad dog.
This poison is generally communicated by a wound, which nevertheless heals as soon as a common wound: but afterwards it begins to feel painful, and as the pain spreads towards the neighbouring parts, the person becomes heavy and listless. His sleep is unquiet with frightful dreams; he sighs, looks dull, and loves solitude. These are the forerunners, or rather the first symptoms of that dreadful disease occasioned by the bite of a mad dog. But as we do not propose to treat fully of the disease itself, but to point out the method of preventing it, we shall not take up time in shewing its progress from the first invasion to its commonly fatal end.
The common notion, that this poison may lie in the body for many years, and afterwards prove fatal, is both hurtful and ridiculous. It must render such persons as have had the misfortune to be bit very unhappy, and can have no good effects. If the person takes proper medicines for forty days after the time of his being bit, and feels no symptoms of the disease, there is reason to believe him out of danger.
The medicines recommended for preventing the effects of the bite of a mad dog, are chiefly such as promote the different secretions, and antispasmodics.
Dr. Mead recommends a preventive medicine, which he says he never knew fail, though in the space of thirty years he had used it a thousand times.
The Doctor’s prescription is as follows:
“Take ash-coloured ground liver-wort, cleaned, dried, and powdered, half an ounce; of black pepper powdered, a quarter of an ounce. Mix these well together, and divide the powder into four doses; one of which must be taken every morning fasting, for four mornings successively, in half an English pint of cows milk warm.
“After these four doses are taken, the patient must go into the cold bath, or a cold spring or river, every morning fasting, for a month; he must be dipped all over, but not stay in (with his head above water) longer than half a minute, if the water be very cold. After this he must go in three times a-week for a fortnight longer.
“The person must be bled before he begins to use the medicine[[161]].”
We shall next mention the famous East India specific, as it is called. This medicine is composed of cinnabar and musk. It is esteemed a great antispasmodic; and, by many, extolled as an infallible remedy for preventing the effects of the bite of a mad dog.