The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-22

YoUATT's CURE For HYDRopHoB1A.-A
celebrated London physician, in letter to
professional friend at Leeds, says: every
year produces an infallible nostrum for hy-
drophobia. The malady, nevertheless, exists
in all its unknown mystery and terror. Ex-
cept that it is believed to be purely disease
OF the nervous system, nothing is known of
the virus or its laws of propagation; so 1
have long dismissed keeping list of rene
dies for the developed disease Yet you will
be astonished i'll add that believe it never,
or almost never, need be taken from the
maddest of dogs About twenty-f years
ago, more or less, was sent for to see the
present Lord L-,then a fine, healty lad, who,
it was said, had been licked, not only over
the lips, but within the mouth, by little
terrier, which was found sitting on the sleep
ing lads chest and dipping his tongue into
his masters open mouth. The demeanor of
the dog alarmed the late Lord L., and |
was called in to ascertain the fact of the dog
being or not being mad.
Now, on this point 1 did not consider
myself any authority, and so entfor Sir Ben
jamin Brodie, who, though agreeing with me
as to the probable madnes of the dog, never
theless desired that the late Mr. Youatt, the
veterinary surgeon, and most remarkable
man, should be appealed to. He at once
pronounced the dog as laboring under n.y.
drophobia, and, turning to me, added, If
you will come tc me in five days at our dog
hospital we can dissect the animal l did
so and found the dog dead, and Youatt
busy in opening the carcass. naturally
was shy in touching the animal, and asked
if he was not afraid. No. he answered, 1
have repeatedly been bitten by most IN
doubted patients, (there were several in the
cribs there then, which 1 saw alive) and
never have any fear.' 1 asked how often he
had been bitten. He told me eight times
and then he called his assistant porter and
asked him how often he had been bitten
He, I think owned to at least eight, and I
believe ten, undoubted introductions of the
virus: and, be it remembered, that the at
tacks or bites were all on the hands of those
men-so could not be wiped off by any inter-
vening garment.
"Youatt then told Inc that his remedy was
to allow the common nitrate of silver, easily
procurable, to filter into the wound; it de
composes the saliva, and in doing this de-
stroys the virus Whenever | am bitten l
have remedy sure and at hand, and no fear
of the disease supervening The actual eau
terry, the caustic potass, and excision, are in
my opinion unsafe and liable to fail The
nitrate of silver chases the poison into the
very capillaries and neutralizes it.-Since /
have known this always use it to any bite
of dog. sound or not, and am at rest. The
above was stated in some blue book about
thirty years ago by Youatt. Brodie and
acted on it, and made poor, young Lord LIS
lips. palate and throat as black as that of a
thoroughbred mad terrier; and he, ifyou ever
see him, will tell you this tale.
"The poison of hydrophobia remains lat
ent on an average six weeks; the part heals
over, but there is pimple or wound. more
or less irritable; it then becomes painful, and
the germ, whatever it is, ripe for dissemina-
ton into the system, and then all hope is
gone. Nevertheless, between the time of the
bite and the activity of the wound previous
to dissemination, the caustic of nitrate of sill
yer is sure preventive; after that it is as
useless as all the other means. The best mode
of application of the nitrate of silver is by
introducing it solidly into the wound. 1t
melts in an equal quantity of water. If al
ready healed, the cicatrix should be rubbed
and caus.icated away entirely" .,.s -..,. -