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...before [the onset of] madness [rabies]. When firm signs of madness appear, at that time there is almost no hope of helping, especially without a skilled physician. For this occurrence, renowned physicians prescribe various proven remedies.*

NOTE: *) Messrs. Liushin and Turdinev, renowned physicians, and the *Surgical Journal of St. Petersburg* [St. Peterburgi Virabuzhakan Oragir] unanimously testify that the root of shepherd’s pipe herb [*hovuap’ogh*, *Heracleum sphondylium* / masterwort], gathered in August, thoroughly washed, and dried in the shade, is exceedingly beneficial against the bite of a mad dog. Take one piece of this herb’s root, or if it be small, two or three pieces; pound it, and reduce it to powder. Likewise take a piece of bread, spread butter upon it, sprinkle the prepared powder over it, and give it to the sick person to eat. Repeating this two or three times is sufficient to destroy the poison, however severe the malady may be, and even if the patient has reached the stage of hydrophobia [fear of water] and madness. Administering this root in the very same manner is likewise efficacious for beasts bitten by a mad dog. The Moscow *Vedomosti* journal, on the 25th of January of the year 1818, published that the saw-wort herb [*sghotsnich*, *Serratula*] possesses the very same virtue, but only prior to the onset of madness and when the affliction is newly begun. It must be gathered while the blossom is yet in bud, dried, and a handful of it boiled in two cups of water until one cup remaineth; strain it, and give it to drink morning and evening. This is to be done continuously for several days. In the *Medical-Therapeutic Lexicon* composed by Dr. Yovhannēs Zigirt [Johann Siegert] and printed in the year 1860 (*Meditsinskiĭ Terapevticheskiĭ Leksikon* of Doctor Johann Siegert), on page 324, it is written that an Italian noblewoman named Bertol attained great renown by treating patients bitten by mad dogs, wolves, snakes, scorpions, and spiders for a long time, and she kept her secret remedy concealed. She had a friend named Filip, to whom she finally revealed it. He also employed that remedy and met with great success. The secret remedy is this: take the shin-bone [shank] of the foreleg of an ox, cleanse away the dirt, scrape off the skin and flesh, and leave the marrow inside. Plaster it over with mixed clay [and] place it in the oven; let it remain there until the marrow and fat within are burned away and the bone is made well-whitened; only care must be taken that the bone be not over-burned and rendered brittle [calcined to ash]. Then remove it from the stove and, with the clay still plastered upon it, set it in the open air until it cools thoroughly; then crush off the clay, clean it, break it into pieces, and keep it. To test it, take a piece of the calcined bone and apply it to your tongue; if it adheres firmly, know that it hath been well prepared. If anyone be bitten by a mad dog, wolf, snake, scorpion, [or] spider (*Tarantula*), immediately enlarge the bitten place with a sharp-pointed knife, and squeeze all around with the hand so that the blood may flow forth; wash it with vinegar, and then apply a piece of that prepared bone upon it. It will immediately adhere firmly and, by sucking, will extract the poison from the wound. After a few minutes, it must be detached and another piece applied. The piece previously applied may be placed for a few minutes in matzoon [curdled milk/yogurt], then taken out, dried, and applied again. This operation must be continued for several hours. Afterwards, a caustic remedy must be applied all around the bite, as stated in number 109, and thus the operation is concluded. Filip saith that experience hath shown that this remedy completely delivers a person bitten by a mad dog. For the bite of a mad dog, see also the periodical *Kṙunk Hayotsʻ Ashkharhi* [Crane of the Armenian World], for the year 1860, page 319.