Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-09-27
Cure for Hydrophobia.

~ SA~AA3
in a letter to a professional friend
at Leeds, says:
Every year produces an infalli-
BILE nostrum for hydrophobia.-
The malady, nevertheless, exists
in all its unknown mystery and
terror. Except that it is believed
to be purely a disease of the ner-
vous system, nothing is known of
thevirus orits laws of propagation;
so have long dismissed keeping
list of remedies for the developed
disease. Yet you will be aston
ished if / add that | believe it new
er, or almost never, need be taken
even from the maddest of dogs.
About twenty-five years age, more
or less, [ was sent for to see
Lord l., then fine, healthy lad,
who, it was said, had been licked
not only over the lips, but in the
mouth, by little terrier, which
was found sitting on the sleeping
lads chest and dipping his tongue
into his masters open mouth. The
demeanor of the dog alarmed
Lord L., and / was called in
to ascertain the fact of the dog be-
ing or not being mad.
Now, on this pointI did not
consider myself any authority, and
SO sent for Sir Benjamin Brodie,
who, though agreeing with me as
to the probable madness of the
dog, nevertheless desired that the
late Mr.. Youatt, the veterinary
surgeon, and a most remarkable
man, should be appealed to. He
at once pronounced the dog as la
boring under hydrophobia, and
turning to me, added: "If you
will come with me in FIVE days at
our dog hospital, we can dissect
the animal" / 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 were not afraid?
NO." he answered, 81 have re-
peatedly been bitten by most un-
doubted patients there were sew
eral in cribs there then, which I
saw alive "and l never have any
fear" | asked how often he had
been bitten; he told me eight
times; and then he called his assis-
tant porter, and asked him how
often he had been bitten. He, |
think, owned to at least eight, and
| believe ten, undoubted introduce
tons of the virus and be it re-
membered that the attacks or
bites were all on the hands of these
men, SO it could not be wiped off
by any intervening garment.
Youatt then told me 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 destroys the virus. When
ever | am bitten, / have remedy
sure and at hand, and no fear of
the disease supervening. The act
ual cautery, the caustic potass,
and excelsior, are in my opinion
unsafe and liable to fail. The
nitrate of silver chases the poison
into the very capillaries, and neu-
tralizes it. Since / have known
this l always use it to any bite of
the dog, sound or not, and am at
rest. The above was stated in
some blue book, about thirty years
ago, by Youatt. Brodie and | act
ed on it, and made poor young
Lord LIS lips, palate and
throat as black as that thorough
bred mad terrier, and he, if you
ever see him, will tell you this tale.
The poison of hydrophobia re-
mains latent on an average six
weeks. The part heals over, but
there is pimple or wound, more
or less irritable. 1t then becomes
painful, and the germ, whatever it
is, ripe for dissemination 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 silver is a
sure preventive; after that it is as
useless as all other means. The
best mode of application Of the nj
trate of silver is by introducing it
solidly into the wound. 1t melts
in an equal quantity of water. If
already healed, the cicatrix should.
be rubbed and causticated away
entirely.
r., Rox R,,f1or,o CJouooSforl