Bearer of Crazed and Venomous Fangs

For centuries prior to the development of an effective vaccination against rabies, the bite of a mad dog was linked to a horrific ailment marked by convulsions, an utter dread of swallowing liquids, uncontrollable thrashing, and even the tendency to bark and attempt to bite othersa horrid prelude to an agonizing death.

Drawing on learned theories of medical practitioners and beliefs of the common ...