The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-11-25
DEATH BY nYDROPUOBIA.

We have the melancholy duty to state thai
Mr. VIM. 4. Bardweli, son of Rev, Mr. Bard
well Of Oxford in this State, died last evening
of hydrophubia. This case was one Of those
awful visiIalious,hy that mysterious aud most
terrible of all diseases, which to witness fixes
upon the mind an indeiabie sense Of horror.
Language can conveys 10 idea Of the fearful
aComies, the lrighfnl sutierugs, to whic!. lhs
victim of this deadly disease is subject, Mr.
b. was bitten by strange dog in lac store of
Shaplegh s, Farringror, on the 2gth .uly.
He was about Is years 81 age, of strong, ro-
bust frame, md esteemed for The ruresl per-
SouHl virtues,
ilc WAS bitten Slightly upon the right wrist,
in attempting to secure The dog to lie him.
The wound drew blood, bat noting parlicu-
lar was done, although he was advised To
use some precautions, 10 protect hu from
possible consequences. The Wuund healed
readily, leaving n scar. II is stated that he
has occasionally felt paius in the wounded
arm; bat it was not I'LL last Sabbath tlaL this
was severe enough 10 induce any particular
attention TO it. On that day lac took bath.
On Monday, his arm sill paiuinc him, he
balhcd il iu alcohol. On Tuesday morning
he again took "a warm balh,und iult much bet
ter. About four O'Clock in the afternoon,
however, the FIRST spasm attacked hini, cUus-
ed hy the sight oFu glass OF wafer. This was
quick spasmodic shndder, and involuntary
drawing back. il appears that he had long
entertained the belief that lie would ., .!.nn'.
~ die Of hydrOpho6iu, ui". nus len luovp
to exhibit much li,trcss OF mind from, Ibis nm
Iteration. inc first spasn, following the
g.::.,n OF his arm, satisfied him that his time
was come; that death in its most horrible
form, was approaching.
From this time the fearful spasMs conln-
ucd TO increase in violence up to u short time
before his death, becoming finally trisatiuly
violent, and almost passing belief of the pow
cr5 Of the human frame. So frantic were
his struggles, that ii required the United
strength Of eight men to restrain him ;Hnti
he'd he not been finally secured otherwise, il
would scarce have prevented him from doing
Injury TO hinsclfand others. Cioroiurm Was
employed yesterday, with success; and he
was enabled, with great cttor:. 10 swallow Il
small portion oi water: hui the spasrns re-
tTrncd with Increased violence, uuIiI he f.
unliy sunk away, exhausted in death.
During the whole tmc he was in possess.
ion Of his reason, except when in his ago
nies. The peculiarly Of lis case was, tia,
the mere idea or thought OF water, or any
liquid, suggested by tie sight Of any dim.
employed for ihcir convey auce, induced
spasms instantly. 1t was this which render
cd the employment Of Cloroiorm very diff
CUT lie was thrown INTO si&Sin5 the mu-
niCnt tlat lac was conscious dat the Cloro-
form approached him.
DR.. Graves was first called to attend the
case, and number of our best physicians
were in close attendance and everything WAS
done which skill and experience could sug-
gest, but without avail. Ii was beyond tie
power of human aid. The disease progress
ed with extraordinary rapidly, u0uiies'iug
lis first active symptom on Tuesday after
noon, and terminating in death, early last
evening II is indeed fearful and nystcri-
Gus loe-lyiug dormant for nearly four
months, and springing into instant and dead
" activity, when fuoiy aroused,-io,ccii
( Courier