Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-16

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rcs of parishioner, in sard to the sick man, he
said TO mo. ale is no ne ter. Do you know what
people say ehout q They say he was bitten by
his brother w. who died of the hydrophobia, and
they prove it, and they know he IL mad " /
Immediately made inquiries, and became satisfied
that this not mere talk. saw, the next day,
his attending physician, and having mentioned tho
facts to him, asked if he had suspected the ma.
turc OF the disease. He replied no. then inqui.
rcd ii he would no, examine his authorities aud
hook for the symptoms of the aisrasc it'll sole re-
ference To them. sncat visit to the sick
rcsuited IN his COM iction that his disease was Inv
drophobia. Tho physician had told the attendants
that IT they would preserve some OF the saliva.
and inocul,te dog with It, he would become ra-
PHI in u certain number of days. They had care.
fully taken up on woolcn string aud dropped in
10 phial quantity of this and corked the phial.
Thcy had selected the victim and tho place of his
confinement, and were holding tho corked phial in
the hand, when the man was seized with his lat
spasn. The phial was suddenly dropped, aud all
search for It in future proved incffectual-a cir
cumStancc deeply To DO regretted, for had tho
pertinent been made. the result would probably
have removed from every mind, capable Of apprc-
ciatins it, all doubt respecting the sick mans dis
Tho following arc some of the facts as s,atsd to
mo by his physician, and corroboratcd by his W.
dow, and those who attended him. The sight of
water productl-a of distressing spasms,
or in the language of attendants made him rave.
In tho intervals of spcsms he rational. In one,
he requested his father-in-law TO remsvo and hide
his razors for he did not know what he might be
led to dn in his turns. In another he gave this
caution 10 his wife. 81 wish you to keep away
from me whom l have these turns-I know not why
it is, but want to bite, and tear shall bite YOU"
His attendants think he sirovc to curb the DISPOSE
ton tn bitc. |. however very cvident. A
ncighhor ono evening entered the room. On seeing
him, he Immediately said in pleasant way, "How
do you d. Mr.. B? am glad to YOU. Come
hero; want TO shake hands with you" Tho neigh
Dor approached and extended his hand. The sick
man sci5ed 1t instantly, and with vusiyc spring
rosv from the yng posture and drow 1t to his mouth.
The attendants who food near, and expected this
result of shaking hands, instantly seized Mr. B,
and forced him from the OK mans grasp before he
was bitten. He talked much about biting, and the
attendants, usual in such cases. ina gincd that he
growled snapped aud barked like dog. The sha.
King OF pillows and bed clothes in his teeth, q
frequent exercise. His eyes CLASSY and wntcry.
Tie spit much, tho MI hit after no left tho bed, and
during his sickness. Iio sp, to all parts of the
room, and watched the opportunity to spit per-
sons who came into 1T. During his sickness, and
especially the night before his doath, he screamed
and hallcoed drcadfully.
On the suppos,tion that these arc to be regarded
ms cases OF real hydrophob'a the facts will stand
thus:
l. w. c.. first victim, bitten by rabid dog in
1907. Sick fifteen days. Died fifteen years after
the bite, in lS22, Hi. 90 years.
=. l.. II. c., second victim, bitten by w. C.. in
1922. Sick fourteen days. Died short of four
years after the bite in 1926, Il. 80 years.
3. S. W. r., third victim, bitten by w. C. in
1922 Sick FIVE dnys. Died five years aftor tho
bite, in 1897. f. 81 years. q
a. c. c.. fourth victim, bitten by w. c. in 1922
Sick eleven days. Died short of years after the
bite, in 1928, Il. 81 years.
These facts well established, and they pre-
cdde the necessity, if not tho propticty, of refer
ring the symptoms Of their disease to what is some
times termed spontaneous hydrophobia Nor did
tho previous habits of life in ma iority of the pa
tc"ls at all favor suchsss reference of their symp-
toms.
c. G. was constant spectator of his brother W.
{. i'll his last sickness They died in the same
house. c. C. also watched with L. II. C. and s.
w. H. and repeatedly told his wife, as she now
hthrns, that they sick just his brother was
sensible man who witnessed three Of the cases,
says The persons were sick alike az nearly as the
difference of natural dispositions, and habits of life
would permit. Dilicrcn. individuals, who observed
nitcntively two or three of the cases, bear the
same estimony, in such numbers, as to include in
IL all tho four. With persons at all acquainted
with the facts and the cases, it is the general
opinion that tho disease WINS hydrophubin.
All tonr dreaded confinement, and exhibited
great quckncss of apprehension ira regard n per-
sons, and circumstances which surrounded them
There was uncommon agility md sprighi Illness in
heir motions, and an evident display OF cunning, |
specially in their efforts escape and bite persons
Til within about two days of the termination of
Inc disease the patients not only inclined to
escape but primary object OF tho intended escape
was 10 have opportunity to run. 1t is the opinion
they would have till they dropped down dead.
One, among other things, pretended to have bust
ness at place six cen miles distant. He plead with
his attendants 10 let him place his feet tho door
steps, and assured them that if he might do it, he
you'd run so that no man could overioke him till
he had reached tho place.
The fears of all were that they should iniure
othors One was at times, afraid of receiving in.
jury from others but this fact, it Is believed may
be explained, by reference to circumstance pc
cuar to himself. All that is claimed, however is |
that there was general concurrence in the class
of symptoms 10 which allusion has been made. !
From momontury agitations, connected with slight
mental ALTERATION, the spasns gradually increased
i'll duration and force, to the last One attendant
says the strength of the patient seemed to increase
during the sPasrns, till he finally sank under them
This mans services have always been sought, and
freely rendered in extreme sickness. He uffirms
that he never witnessed cases at all resembling
these In attending tho last individual, he CO.
vcrod with rag spots of fractured skin his hands
lest the saliva Of the patient should reach them.
Another procured aud constantly a pair of
stout gloves. An attendant in one of the cases,
says, that twelve hours service at time, was
as much az he could endure, and that others were
obliged frequently 10 change, and retire from the
scene, and suspend tho efforts required of them
when present.
Many testify that there was in all the casca, du-
ring the spasns spells as termed, uncommon
scent from the patients breath This obscr-
we'd IN every case by numbers. Some designate 1t
by the opithct strong; others say they expo
ricnced the like before, since, and they cannot
describe it. All seom to remember it perfectly
distinct in its character. One person in en6eavor-
ing to convey an idea of II, said it resembled that
Of cats and dogs vixen fighting. his smell was
not perceived, except at the time when the patient
ravcd. or had spells and frothed at the mouth.
1t is the opinion of attendants, that the patients
were literally siffcned during the spasms, and that
in the latter stages of the disease, they might have
been raised up erect, by tho application of force
the head, without my bending of the body. The