A proper regimen must be observed throughout the whole course. The patient should abstain from flesh, and all salted and high-seasoned provisions. He must avoid strong liquors, and live mostly upon a light and rather spare diet. His mind should be kept as easy and cheerful as possible, and all excessive heat and violent passions avoided with the utmost care.
I have never seen this course of medicine, with proper regimen, fail to prevent the hydrophobia, and cannot help again observing, that the want of success must generally be owing either to the application of improper medicines, or not using proper ones for a sufficient length of time.
Mankind are extremely fond of every thing that promises a sudden or miraculous cure. By trusting to these they often lose their lives, when a regular course of medicine would have rendered them absolutely safe. This holds remarkably in the present case. Numbers of people, for example, believe if they or their cattle were once dipped in the sea, it is sufficient; as if the salt-water were a charm against the effects of the bite. This, and such like whims, have proved fatal to many.
It is a common notion, if a person be bit by a dog which is not mad, that, if he should go mad afterwards, the person would be affected with the disorder at the same time; but this notion is too ridiculous to deserve a serious consideration. It is a good rule, however, to avoid dogs as much as possible, as the disease is often upon them for some time before its violent symptoms appear. The hydrophobia has been occasioned by the bite of a dog which shewed no other symptoms of the disease but listlessness and a sullen disposition.
Though we do not mean to treat fully of the cure of the hydrophobia, yet we are far from reckoning it incurable. The notion that this disease could not be cured, has been productive of the most horrid consequences. It was usual either to abandon the unhappy persons, as soon as they were seized with the disease, to their fate, to bleed them to death, or to suffocate them between matrasses or feather-beds, &c. This conduct certainly deserved the severest punishment! We hope, for the honour of human nature, it will never again be heard of.
I have never had an opportunity of treating this disease, and therefore can say nothing of it from my own experience; but the learned Dr. Tissot says, it may be cured in the following manner:
1. The patient must be bled to a considerable quantity; and this may be repeated twice, or thrice, or even a fourth time, if circumstances require it.
2. The patient should be put, if possible, into a warm bath; and this should be used twice a-day.
3. He should every day receive two, or even three emollient clysters.
4. The wound, and the parts adjoining to it, should be rubbed with the mercurial ointment twice a-day.