the futility of that opinion. Not one of those who depended solely on this remedy survived the bite more than thirty-three days."91. I presume the reader is, by this time, satisfied as to the efficacy of bathing. The reason why it continues, in the present age, to be used as a prophylactic remedy for the bite of a mad dog, is the same which may be assigned for a thousand other foolish customs—our fathers did so before us; and their reason was, that their fathers did so before them: but from what theory the inventor of this remedy deduced his prescription is not easily imagined. All medicines must have ori∣ginated either in reasoning à priori, or from some fortuitous event. The first, I think, is, in this case, out of the question: I conclude, therefore, that some person bit by a dog, supposed to be mad, ac∣cidentally fell into a horse-pond. He continued well; ergo, the hydrophobia was prevented by a ducking. The repu∣tation of some other medicines in constant use for other diseases is not a whit better supported.0