Horse rabies in European printed sources in the 17th century

Abstract

In European countries and in Russia until the second half of the 20th century, horses (in Spain also donkeys and mules) were not only the main labor force, but also a necessary link for ensuring transportation and waging wars. The sources on veterinary medicine of the 17th century that we studied mention equine rabies, present the main theories of its origin and spread, as well as several treatment options. These data allow us to evaluate the ideas of that time about the origin, development and spread of rabies among horses and some other animals. The aim of our study was to identify ideas about the origin and spread of rabies, in particular in horses, as well as about the methods of its treatment and control in 17th century printed sources in English, Spanish and Latin. We found that in all the sources studied, separate chapters are devoted to rabies, which describe a clinical picture that is really very similar to rabies. We also found that the main causes of rabies were indeed considered to be "poisonous saliva", which was transmitted by bites, and then affected the "humors" in such a way that the animal began to "go crazy". Due to the lack of much knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis and outcome of the disease available to us now, in the 17th century in Spanish, Latin and English-speaking countries, horses were being treated for rabies, which undoubtedly should have led to infection of humans and other animals.