Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-04-27
Death from the Bite of n Dog so
wears agOs

From the Dayton tohio) Gazette March 81.
From an acquaintance Of the deceased,
we learn the following particulars relating
to the death Of Mr.. A. Rodgers, who died
of hydrephobia. az Frankland, as announc-
ed in our paper yesterday morning:
About thirty years ago Mr.. Rodgers was
bitten by mad dog. and was placed in ut
ter darkness under medical treatment for
the space Of thirty days, and apparently
recovered from The effects of the bite;
though at irregular intervals since thSs time
he has felt unpleasant and peculiar sensa-
tons, supposed to be caused by the virus
which in an almost insignificant degree, re-
mained 10 his system. Otherwise he enjoy
ed good health, and being man Of power
ful pysical frame, weighing near tive hun
dred pounds, II is probable that the strength
Of his constitution that kept the virus in his
constitution subdued It was on the 18th
of January last that he received the last
bite. under the following circumstances:
A small, half starved dog had been about
the house during the day, and MIR. Rodgers
told one of the children to call il IN and feed
it, which was done. Mr.. Rodgers stopped
down 70 caress il, when it bit him i the
hand. He instantly grasped bis hsnu and
remarked to bis wife that he never felt such
a pain. Ii seemed to thrill his system like
an eclectric shock. Nothing further, how
ever, occurred at the time beyond very
sewers headache and slight nervous fever.
The same dog was known to have bitten
several hogs, but not until the hogs became c
Esbid, which was several weeks after. was
the dog supposed to have been mad. When
Mr. Rodgers became acquainted with these
facts be st once felt that, under bis peculiar
situation, with the virds Of former bite in
his system, his case was hopeless one, and
immediately set about closing up his busi-
ness, and made his will, communicating bis
spprehentioHs to no person. not even to bis
family.
He enjoyed good health up to Wednes'
day before his death, when the symptoms
Of hydrophobis began 10 manifest them.
selves, causing him, however, no serious In
convenience until Friday morning, when or
attempting to wash bis hands and face, h'
found himself unable to get his hands into
the water. r
He ste but little breakfast, and in
short time went to bed. About II o'clocl
on Friday night be was seized by mos
fearful spasm, which lasted some time
After the spasm passed off he became quite
calm, and conversed necessarily. and assur
ed his trends that be would not harm then
in any way. His next spasm was on Satur
day morning and more violent than thC
former.
The last spssm seemed to rack the suffer
or with the most excruciatiDg agony, anC
was dreadful iu the extreme, even to wit
ness. During all his suferings to the yer!
moment Of his death. he was conscious 0
his condition, perfectly rational in all re
spects, and seemed TO take particular car,
70 harm no one during bis raEing fits al
though he was no way secured, and in th'
same room with his trends and attendants
Il is certainly contrary to usual expert
ence that the virus should remain so Ions
in the system, and give no more decided
manifestations of lis presence. But hi
case, though remarkable one, ~ nj
means an isolated one.