Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-17

Tie following u N sseoas,t 81 one IT thSsc
most di-sre.sisR essrs a sisessc, upon Which u -
impo>,ibie to reflect uitisoaf shaddcr-a case of
HYDROPHoBiA.
Mr.. VALE, Of the town Of Ovid, Sc
neea county, died Of this awful and
distressing disorder on Sunday the LIST
If October last, leaving wife and Que
Irhild to deplore his melancholy fate.
The particulars. so far ~ ] have
been able to gather them, are rs fol-
lows. Nine or ten weeks previous TO
his death, Mr.. Vale discovered, for the
FIRST time, that his dog exhibited symp
toms Of Hydrophobis. and thinking it
unsafe that he should run at large. con
fined him bot while in the act Of
claiming the dog he was bitten severe
~ on the hand. The animal was i'm
mcdiatcIy killed, and consequently did
not live TO prove the correctness or in
correctness Of Mr.. Wales suspicious.
hut COW, which had been bitten by
the same dog short time previous TO
his confinement, died few days after,
with every symptom Of IIydrophobia.
which was fearful evidence to the
wrctched man that he. too, had within
him all the elements Of quick coming
and most appalling death. Medical
aid was Immediately secured, aud all
kaown specifics for by drophobia put in
rcquisition.
Eight or nine weeks had passed, and
he felt that he was out Of danger-felt
, that the applications had had the de-
sired effect; when he learned that the
mysterious and maddcning agent was
st work within him-learocd that he
must die mad man! On Thursday
evening previous to his death, while he
was sitting before the fire, his mother
had occasion to pour some water into
dish that stood before him, which
caused him to shudder and catch his
breath, something as person does on
being suddenly immersed In water.
This was the first symptom exhibited.
Doct Pearl, Of Genoa, in this county,
was called on Friday, who says that
he saw nothing unusual in the appear
ance Of Mr.. v. except in the eyes.
which we're considerably protruded
out Of the head-very CLASSY in their
appearance. and the pupils Of which
were very much enlarged.
The patient continued in this situa-
ton, free from pain, and well at heart,
until one o'clock on Sunday morning,
when he suddenly sprang from his bed
and exclaimed to the by ISLANDERS, (ff-
teen or sixteen in number, who from
friendship or curiosity remained with
him through the night)--"Clear the
room! Clear the room." They imme
diately withdrew, and he was confined
in the room alone! Now commence, {.
a struggle, which the pen cannot de
scribe--the Imagination cannot con.
ceive. He raved and struggled-gra.
ted his teeth--frothed at the mouth
and yelled most distressingly. His
distorted visage. staring eye, and fu.
rious gestures, presented spectacle
which, by those who have witnessed il,
can never be forgotten. The first al.
tack continued but a short time. when
he became more calm, and asked his
friends to come into the room where
he was. Now" said he. "bind me.
keep away from me!'' Solemn and
awful as was the duty, it was done as
he requested, and the wretched man
was bound hand and foot to his bed,
where, with agonies and groans, and
shouts, too fearful to be told, and too
dreadful ever 10 be forgotten. he died,
at about 10 o'clock on Sunday morn.
ing. w. CIR
Genoa, (Cayuga COZ Nov. !. 1850,