Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-05-10
1n. ".
distressing Gas. Of IIydrophOhia

Distressing Case of Hydrophohia
!, falls uur painful 10, TO record case
Of lhs awful maiady in our midst. Ihe
victim, Mr.. " iInam Roberts, young
man employed in Ihis office as aa appren-
NE. was bitten in the hand on the even
mo of The IGJh Of February last, as near
=, We cau recoieci. by small dog
when he caught IN The street. and brought
uo INTO the Office The dog al the tine
exhibited no signs uf disease whatever.
Opr two children were in the Office play
mo with the animal. racing him sboas
the room. when he made an eaHri 10 es-
cane. and Mir. Roberts who was sweep
ing out, attempted to prevent hlm. when
The dog inflicted slight wound, causing
the blood to lIow pretty freely. lie im-
nedia,ely showed US the wound, 10 which
neither of Us attached any importance, and
with the exception OF one occasion, day
or two afterwards, the circumstance was
entirely forgotten. Ills general health
appeared to undergo 10 change unti on
Wednesday last, the I'd inst, when ne
complained of pain in his arm and shoul-
der, which. however, did not prevent him
from performing his usual duties ABOUT
the Office unn on Friday afternoon, aud
then in distributing type in his case, he
remarked that his eyes burt him and that
he could not see very well. We urgeu
him to cease work which he seemed re-
iurtanI to do, and reIInqulshed hls case
only when assured by another hand in the
Office that he would throw IN his letter.
On Saturday morning he called on DR., j.
. W. Crawford, who on examination OF hls
throat and tongue took his disease TO be
Qulnsv, and gave medicine accordingly.
In the evening he grew worse, when Dr.
Crawford called to see him, and on ques-
ioulug him as To the symptoms OF hls DIS
ease, lie complained Of pain in The lelt
arm and shoulder, sore throat and thirst.
The Doctor ordered glass of water to
be brought him, which on his attempting
to drink threw him into slight parox-
ySm. The appalling nature OF the dire
maIadv at once forced i!seli upon Dr. y s.
mind, and he Immediately made inquiry
Wheeler he had been bitten by a dog, and
on receiving an affirmative answer the dis
ease was fully established. A consulla-
lcn was held by the physicians and chic
rolorm was resolved upon as The onIy
remedy likely to prove efficient in mas.
tering lhc disease, but it only served to
paIiale and sIlav the paroxysms.--
Throughout Saturday night and Sunday
he was under he influence of Chloro-
form, bat still subject 10 spasmodc action
when reused, either by calling 10 him or
the rushing OF fresh air into the room. IN
Sunday evening The physicians ceased
giving chlOrolOrm, and administered the.
Stowe remedy ). but il utterly failed 10 are
rest the progress of the disease or allay
the parOXysms, though claimed TO be
certain cure if taken Immediately when
bitten by rabid animals or before The par
oxysms commence. He fingered until g.
clock on Monday norning when death
kindly relieved him Of his intense suffer-
Jugs. In the absence Of tie paroxysms.
which lasted from few seconds To bait
minute, he was quite sensible, and when
summoned 10 his bedside, about two
hours before bis death, he cordially grasp
ed our hand and informed us that he was
NEAR his last end" In answer 10 the
question al he lelI prepared 10 die = hc
replied allirma,iyely, saying he was "pre
pared Ia die" lie was perfectly con
sclous of his approaching dissolution, and
he passed away ~ ease and with scarcely
a struggle. Throughout the whole time
he manifested no ylsclousness Of DISPOSE.
lion, and frequently remarked 10 those Of
his family and friends "Io come near 10
hin that he would not hurt them
The intelligence Of the nature Of his dis
ease was made known al about o'clock
on Saturday evening AID spread Ike wild.
Ere. and on the foL Sihg morning It wss
Known four n around. Everybody
IN the com,Jo y was horror.s'ricsen az
tn idea OF human being haging the by
droPhohia. On Sunday groups Of men
and boys hued the street. coBversiug up.
on snd contemplating i!'e appalling subjec',
aud whai hey never Witnessed IN realty
the magma ION readily cnrlectSreJ. We
never before Witnessed = case ol his dire
maIady, either IN human being or the
brute creation, and while sc live we hope
thai II may never be ou; lot 10 witness cr
record another case. We Witnessed tie
progress OF tie disease from iis de,e!-
opmcntunlII nearly lis fa.al iermiuaiion.
and though imagination hal viviGly paint
ed is honors luus, yet the hall Was neT-
er realized bul siil 1t was heart rending
TO view !rIiow-moraI thrown into viO.
lent paioxysms al the very appearance Of