Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-01-12
HydrOphObia.

"The early symptoms of rabies in the dog,
are occasionally very obscure. In the great
er number Of cases these are sullenness, fdg-
e%tness, and continual sitting of POSTURE
Where | have had opportunity, ! have gene
rally found these circumstances in regular
succession. For several consecutive hours,
perhaps, be retreats to his basket or bed. He
shows no disposition 10 bite, and he answers
the call upon him laggardly. He is curled
up, and his face is buried between his paws
and his breast. At length he begins 10 be
fdgety. lie searches out new resting pla-
ces; but he very soon changes them for 9TH
ers. He takes again to his own bed but he is
continually changing his posture. He begins
10 gaze strangely about him as he lies on his
bed. His countenance is clouded and suspi-
cious. He comes to one and another of the
family, and he fixes on them a steadfast gaze,
as if he would read their very thoughts. Il
feel strangely ill., he seems TO say; have you
anything to do with itl' If we have observ.
ed a rabid dog at the commencement of the
disease, we have seen this to the very life.
"A peculiar delirium is an early symptom,
and one that will never deceive. A Young
man was bitten by one Of his dogs; / was
requested to meet a medical gentleman on
the subject. l was a little behind my time;
as entered the room, | found the dog eager.
~ devourlng a pan of sopped bread. There
is no madnesshere,' said the gentleman. He
had scarcely spoken when the dop omitted
the sop, and with a furious bark sprung against
the wall as if he would seize some imspina-
ny object that he iancied was there. Ibid
you see that?' was my reply. What do YOU
think OF 1t! i see nothing in it, was his
retort; the dog heard some noise on the other
side Of the WALL At my serious urpinp.
however, he consented 10 excise the part.
procured a poor worthless cur and got him
bitten by this dog, and carried the disease
from this dog TO a third victim; thew all be-
came rabld one after another, and there nv
experiment ended. The serious matter under
consideration, perhaps, justified me, in doing
as | did.
"This kind Of delirium is of frequent oc.
c%urrence in the human patient. The account
given by DR.. Bardsley of one Of his patients,
il very appropriate to our present purpose -
observed that he frequently fixed his eyes
with horror upon some ideal object, and then
with a sudden and violent emotion, buried
his head beneath the bed clothes. The next
time ] saw him repeat this action, | was in.
duced TO inquire into the cause of his terror.
He asked whether ! had not heard howlinps
ana Something's. On being answered in the
"5"''SS hO ouuuSbIJ tHIeW nlIlSelt on his
knees, extending his arms In a defensive pos
ture, and forcibly threw back his head and
body the muscles of the face were agitated
by various spasmodic contractions his eve.
balls glared, and seemed ready to start from
their sockets; and at that moment. when cry-
ing out in an agonizing tone, DO YOU see
that black dog = his countenance and attitude
exhibited the most dreadful picture of com.
pllcated horror, distress and rage, that words
can describe or Imagination paint
" There is also IN the human being, a pecu-
larlty IN this delirium which seems 10 dis.
tlngulsh 1t from every other kind of mental
alteration. The patient in Mr.. Lawrence's
language, lis pursued by a thousand phan-
toms that intru1e themselves upon his mind.
he holds conversations with imaginary per.
sons; he ~fancies himself surrounded with
difficulties, and in the greatest Distress
These thoughts seem 10 pass through his
mind with wonderful rapidity, and 10 keep
him In a state of the greatest distress unless
he is quickly spoken to, or addressed by his
name, and then In a moment the charm is
broken; every phantom Of Imagination dis
appears aad at once he begins to talk as
calmly and collectedly as in perfect health
80 II is with the dog, whether he is
watching the NOTES that are floating in the
an or inc insects that are annoying him on
The walls, or the foes that he ~fancies are
threatening him on every side-one word re-
calls him IN a moment. Dispersed by the
magic influence of his masters voice, eyery
object Of terror disappears, and he crawIs to-
wards him with the same peculiar express
slons OF attachment that used to characterize
hlm' Then comes a moments pause-a mo-
ment OF actual vacuity-the eve slowly clio.
ses, the head droops, and he seems as if his
fore feet were giving way and he would fall;
but he springs up again; every object of ter
ror once more surrounds him-he gazes wild.
ly around hlm-he snaps-he barks, and he
rushes TO the extent of his chain, prepared to
meet his imaginary foe.
"The expression of the countenance of the
deg u%ndergoes a considerable change, princi-
pally depending on the previous disposition
of The animal. If he was naturally of an af.
fectionate disposition, there will be an anx-
ious, inquiring countenance, eloquent beyond
the power of resisting its influence. Ii is
made up OF strange suggestions as to the ma
lure OF The depresslons Of mind under which
he ia6ors, mingled with some passing doubts,
ana they are but passing, as to the concern
wnien me master has in the affair; but most
oil all, there is an affectionate and confding
appeal for relief. AT the same time we ob,
serve some strange fancy, evidently passino
through his mind, unalloyed, however bv The
slightest portion of ~ferocity.
in the countenance of the naturallv sav-
age brute, or him that has been trained IN he
savage, there is indeed a fearful chance
sometimes the coniunetive is highly inisc,,'
ed al other times t. is scarcely affected, bu,