New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-25
HYDROPHOBIh

Sir. Tic case Of Hydrophobia which was received
:, 10 NesYork Hospital last week having been re-
ported in your own a. other papers as lingering in
q c,crpcistine aeony till he died" from which it
,oud he is,erred that lie obtained relief willie in
.the Irsttution would respectfully ask leave 70 cor
rect this statement through your columns AMI also to
Give some interesting facts connected with the case
which W IN tend iodisabuse tie public mind Of It's IN
founded views respecting ills formidable and fearful
disease.
Edward Bran,feld aged O., was brought TO the
Hospital about 7. VI. on Monday, 18th inst, attend
ed by two or three physicians and crowd of curious
peope-sn accompaniment not calculated to allay the
excitement under which he was suffering. His re-
moval hher should have been conducted in the most
private and quiet manner. whereas it 80 done a.
greatly 10 increase his excitement and cause him to
complain Of Their unkindues ard threaten revenge.
On admission Liz face flushed, tie eyes wide open
and pupils remarkably diaicd-ihe whole cxp preston
indicative Of terror and distress He was suspicious
and fearful, shrinking when tie hand was laid upon
him. but lot dangerously disposed.
He was rooeived by the House Physician who placed
him INN eiatoly il bed in quiet ROOM under the care
Of GOOD male nurse removed from lie presence every
IeIton end thing flat night annoy him, and admins-
tered in.Iuod acly such soothing remedies were adj
tons int lligenily and submitted without renons.rance
TO what was deemed nee, ssory. lie complained of a
sensation Of air blowing over him, the windows and
dcois being At the time closed Accumuafions OF ie
nacious saliva troubled lin somewhat but when asked
file would take some waerhc quietly declined saving
he thought II hurt him. None then presented to
him. His pulse on admission 100 per minute and
full but al 3 o'clock one hour afierwarl it had de-
g.. tfotta D.
Soon after this an opium pin was ordered for him
ard he muse inadvertently brought in a tin cupfa
Of water 10 assft him in swalowingit. He started up
m bed with an expression Of honor and apprehension
sweating fcrcely and intensely enraged Tie cup was
instantly moved and lie soOthed and persuaded 20
tab ilc fll into his mouth. He attempted 70 swallow
IT, but filled. lclay quiet for moment, then started
up III violent rage 10 spring at The throat of the nurse
sitting vchcreity, with furious voice and gestures.
lie was easily lrcyeuod ON inaictug injury, but the
ASSAULTS being repeated, was restrained by force. When
he lecomc quiet agan he said that ia the paroxysm he
WIS not himself"
ON being gently famed with the hand on his bare
head which war naturally devoid Of hair from such
position that the hand could not be seem he burst
nio violent EXPRESSION Of roye swearing and ex-
Ginning it was better 10 KNOCK hin in the head at
"ouce than do that way. These experiments were not
repeated aud he was kept az cIlH as possible.
Il Icing at this seasOn my tour OF service at the Hos
1i.nI AZ Attending an, Immediately noti-
fed OF the case but il consequence OF other engage
moiis did receive the notice in time to reach him
before =. VI. Tie foregoing statement is condemned
from The report furnished Inc by the House Physician,
DR. Mills. found tie patient at the time OF visit
on The bed 10 which he strapped to prevent injury
10 Himself and others, perfectly calm 10 all appear
auce intelligent, and entirely submissive to treatment.
He c0nvcrsod freely though with some confusion Of
dates and CHS respecting the time when he received
tie bite between four and five weeks preyiousl and
Oller circumstance connected Herewith, aud Of his
own feelings then. The scar upon the lower
lip. perfectly healed and exhibiting no signs Of
irritation. IS be thus lay and cOnyessed,
10 Oh could suplO.c that he was labOri1. under 80
faisl an irfuencc, unless her the finger laid
IN on lie Pulse, which now numbered nearly 100 and
WIS ir and bounding, or he complained OF the
pain IN his throat aud difficulty Of swallowing On
eXni ng liz ihlOa, a degree Of rcdness was observed
~ isuCos accounting a'finy for the pain OF de ,lu
u,on. Afor SWING further cci.ons for his continued
comfort AMI ne prevention Of more eonvulsIOns, II oc
cured 10 to test Inc ruth Of some of the popular
uoous respecting this disease, especially in relation to
Nai rec, lr sympom from which It derives its name,
W: Ticd,cqd n r0'cr. The results of these inyestl-
gaio 1t shopcd may have the effect not only OF cor
itctin. some hl'c views on the subject, but what l.
more dcsiale of hereafter a'ieyaimg The intense SUI.
6l ngs 0. ihoc afflicted with tic disease, if indeed
tho may lot increase the means and probability of
recovery.
Tie most distros sing part of the malady is undoubt
cdly the difc and pm IN sralOriHg ar sing ON
sharp sIasmodic acton of the muscles concerned IN
this function, cytcuding sometimes even to those oi me
neck and 4 est aud producing feeling of alarming
construction OF The organs of respiration, causing al
most complete though temporary suifocation. ald thus
aepravatng if not actually exciting the cOavuis0ns,
with Tie more or less violent conorOns and discolor-
alton of the oountenance, prOrusOn of the eyeballs
and o,her active and painful symptoms Ii Is pOpu-
lar idea that all these excited by the sight aud
even by the sound OF water and although an intense
ir almost universally cOeXists the friends and even
the patient himself anxious as they are to aev ate II,
dread even the presence sound OF water much more
IFS aulroach to the lips lest all these horrible symp-
toms shou Il ensuc My Investigations simple a. they
are throw heht on these points and II Is hoped VIII
show how relief may be extended m future IN those
most distressing symptoms-thrst anu pachel ana
burning thIOA the means thus pointed out are SUM-
GENTLY promptly and carefully attended to.
That the mere s0uHd of water viii not excite the par
oXvsm was proved IN this case by The Tact ina me
noise of a stream OF water in a closet was continually
within reach of his ears, to which he gave no heed
whatever while was 10y him, though u Is said that
when ne first heard it he unpeasan'ly affected by
IT, Observing this then desired to try whether lis
actual taste rifbOHt SwGLOWtng, could not be safely
borne: and TO this end induced the patient 10 lake
mouthful but 10 hold m his mouth without attempt
ing to swallow. Ne did So and after retaining 1t SUI
fcienty long to satisfy both hun aud myself az my IL
rec,iou he elected it from his mcE,h expressing grath
cation at its cooling effect
One step further ] determined 10 90, though not
without some fear of producing parOXysIn OF pam
and perhaps a COM ulson. | sent for some ice aud
with little persuasion placed a small piece IN his
mouth directing him allow it simply 10 trckle down
Lis thrce melted, avoiding as before every effort
al swallowing. 4 piece about the size o! thim0le
was fin 81 tcd the cooling effect OF wich was exceed
inslv grateful, and he willingly accepted secOnI
NICE Ii very difficult for him TO avoid de-lnl-
non: re did succeed however and ali the ice descended
20 q c stomach il melted drop by drop, demonstrate
ing in the most conclusive manner that water per 50
has 10 influence in the osusation OF the spasms and
that the disoase is Improperly named II Is not hy