III.

Course in Animals

In animals, rabies takes two forms: furious or irritable rabies, and dumb or paralytic rabies. The stages of furious rabies are similar to those through which an infected human passes; during the stage of excitement the animal usually runs amok, biting and snapping at any living thing in its path. In dumb rabies, which is not as common as furious rabies, the stage of excitement is of very short duration or is absent, and the paralytic stage sets in early in the disease, first attacking the muscles of the jaws and larynx. Domestic animals such as dogs and cats are generally immunized against rabies; in many areas this is required by law. The spread of rabies among wild animals such as raccoons has prompted efforts to develop methods of vaccinating animals who may come into contact with pets or with human beings.