Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-07-21
From tie Neg YORK Epea::as Post.


) We now redeem our promise by giving
the statement o. the case Of James Cam,
who was hit'en by mad dog. and cured
by the plantcalled Scullcnp. as drawn up
and furnished us by bis two physicians,
I" Early on Thursday morning, the 10Th
June. was called upon Ivy James Cam,
who requested me to dress bis right hand,
which had just been bitten by dog that
he believed was mad. Upon examination,
| found the dogs teeth had penetrated
deep into the muscular part Of the thumb.
between its metacarpal bone and that of
the fore 6nger, and that the skin was but
little lacerated. From the situation and
depth OF the wound, ldeemed exti.paticn
inexpedient, and directed superficial dres-
sings, telling him at the same time, If the
dog should prove to have been mad, he
had nofhing to fear. as a plant h q been
discovered, (shewing him a drawing OF
the scnllcap, in the Evening Post which
had never been known to tail in such cases,
when properly administered. In lie eve
ming saw him again, and then .vised
him to call on Jesse Williams, the son.in-
law Of the late Mr. Lewis, of Westminster,
and procure from him quantity OF scmii-
cap. He did so, aud obtained about three
ounces Of the dried herb, finely cut up,
with directions to put teaspoon full and
an hall OF il in quart oil warm water, and
TO drink half pint ofthis infusion morn
ing and night. for two successive days, and
on the third to omit it and take tea
spoon full Of flower Of sulphur. In this
manner Williams directed The scplIcap and
sulphur to be alternately used for forty
days during which time, exercise was To-
be avoided and an abstemious diet observ-
ed he thought the wound required no
other attention than simple dressing. Mr..
Cam strictly followed the above direc-
tons, and remained free from complaint
till Thursday the Eth. Alou. noon he
was suddenly taken i'll, and sent for me.
| found him laboring under siigb;fu spasms
of the muscles of the face and neck his
face was drawn towards the right shoulder,
his bead conyulsively shaken, he ground
his teeth with violence, his eyes had a
wild and terrific stare, ana bis whole as.
pect was appalling but the spasm soon
subsidized, and he became perfectly calm.
Upon enquiry, found he was first attack
ed with shiseriDg, then ricEing or
tingiing sensation about the parts bitten.
extending over the hand and running up
the arm. accompanied with slight inrolun-
tary tw ilchirgs Of the muscles Of The hand
and arm ; to these succeeded a sense Of
tightness about the chest and throat i'm
alter which, followed the con-
vulsive action of the muscles Of the face
and neck, above described. found his
pulse and breathing regular and natural
during The intervals but when the pa.
roxysms were approaching, they became
hurried and irregular, and continued 40
until the spasms had gone off, when he
OF slight pain in the right
breast, together With soreness and stiff
ness of the back part of the neck. Liquids
he took without difficulty, nor did pouring
water from one vessel to another, in his
presence, produce any perceptible dis
lress neither did the sight Of the surface
2f q polished mirror, or The waving Of a
white curtain, scnsibIy affect him.-flis
paroxysms returned at irregular intervals,
Of from Eve to ten minutes, their duration
being from one to two minutes. His bowels
being constpated, gave him scruple Of
;alomel, and directed him 10 drink his
Tea (Which, upon inspection, found very
weak as strong as it could be Eade-to
AXE it warm, and in a. large quantities as
his stomach would bear-using it as bis
,nly drink
18th. Early in the morning, Dr.. Rob-
ION saw him with inc, and continued 10
ice him afterwards. We learnt that some
person had taken 10 or IL
ounces OF blood from his arm the night be-
ore that his calhartic had operated free
y during the night he had taken largely
his tea, and thought himself better the
,pasms, however, still severe, but not
quite SO frequent. We directed him to
continue MS tea as yesterday.
18th. This morning we found him
he had passed tolerably good
iouln M. O. lattnr than terdaH