Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-12
[From tho Indianapolis Journai1
Singular Case Of Hydrophobis-A Pos
sible Recovery.

lFrom tho Indianapolis Jourrai1
Singular Case Of Hydrophobis Poss
sible Recovery.
Some eight weeks ago Miss Selma FL
Ter. an intelligent young lady Of twenty
two years, daughter Of Mr. Harvey El-
Ter, residing at Beck's station on the
Peru railroad. in Hamilton county. some
fifteen miles north Of this city. was bitten
by rabid dog, while she was endesvoring
to drive him ont of the house. The wound
was on the finger. and so very slight that
i: excited no alarm, although the dog was
known to be mad. As usual in cases Of
hydrophobia, she thought nothing more
about the matter until the morning or
Monday, the 18th ult, when on going 10
wash her face the touch of the water .'nade
her shudder," as she described il. The
fearful truth flashed on her instantly, but
being lady Of great self lf.command. she
simply said 10 her sister, II am going TO
go mad; | can't liye," adding that SIZE
would, however, ''iuish spinning the rolls
she was engaged upon. She worked on
during the day, with some increase Of the
horrible symptoms, but nothing visible to
others; and the next morning, on sitting
down to the table, she remarked 10 the
family, ~ ou must take that water from
the table or cant eat anything" She
ate but little, and got up saying she would
60 to work again. She continued through
that day as before, but with decided
strengthening of her repugnance to water,
Of which, she said, "the very sight sent =
tingling feeling oil through her" She
also complained that the glistening face
of the clock affected her in the sane way.
On Wednesday she was too far overcome
to work, and while standing in the floor
speaking to some Of her family she began
grinding her teeth. and directly after fell
down in fl, the foam working out Of her
mouth, her teeth gnashing, and her body
frightfuily convulsed. Some of the young
er children who were with her at the tinle
ran out in great alarm. and the neighbors
hurrying in found her on the floor near
the FIRE, in the same terrible condition,
but she bit 80 furiously at every one who
touched her that il wss impossible to do
anything with her. The Ere was removed
50 that she might not injure herself by il.
and she was left lying I'LL the spasm had
passed off, She was then placed upon the
bed, and DR.. Rocker called in. When he
arrived she was again convulsed, aud
senseless, uttering short barking sounds,
and swapping at everythingihat approach
ed her. A bloody iro,h was constantly
issuing from her mouth, which she tried
to spit at those around her. lie caused
her to be tied down in the bed, and pro-
ceedod TO administer morphine TO relieve
her agony. In lucid interval she re-
monstrated sasing II must die, know il,
aud | want to die in my senses, so don't
stupify me with medicine" After anoth-
er ft. tho Doctor proposed another dose
Of morphine, aud at last she consented.
but added: "You must not give il 10 me
with water" But this remedy produced
little cdeci. The awful parosysms con.
tiuued, with the same irightnl suggestions
OF doggish sound aud the same frantic
efforts TO bite She bit her hands terribly
and bit pieces out Of the pillow and bed
clothes DR.. a. G. Ruddlo wss also Gala
ed in, but his assistance was ss unavaiing
us that of DR.. Rocker. This, wo believe,
was the next day, Thursday, but al all
events on that day DIR. Rocker determined
10 Try the effect Of bromide Of potassium
which has been recommended by some
European physician in eases Of hydro
phobin. DIR, Ruddle happening 10 ha'es
small quantity with him. IL was az once
administered, and the ueatment has been
stendily kept up aioce, Till yesterday nearly
two ounces had been gi,en. The symP-
toms continued with little or no apparent
abute .aent ill Sunday or yesic, day, When
they were considerably less marked. The
cts occurred lcss frequently, aud with less
severity. The unfortunate lady had ceased
biling herself aud had sufficient knowledge
of her situation 10 wrap her arms. mp
tightly Ia the bed clothes when she felt
the spasm coming on, 20 keep thcm oni of
danger. Though very Gar from being cut
of danger, the abatement Of the symptoms
has been 20 decided as 10 create somc hope
of her recovery, which. if realized, will
make this one OF the most remarkable
cases on record. \ great many Physicians
and hundreds Of tie people of The sicini.
~ have visited her, aud some Of our city
physicians, We understand, will ,isil b.f
to-day.
The ease has, as may we'll he supposed.
created perfect crusade agaiust the dogs
in all the region round about. Tie CHI.
zens of Noblesville, scne seven or eight
miles north, made a general attack on
their dog population few days since, aud
killed all they could end.
Tho prevalence of hydrophobia all over
this State this winter, is singular We
hear of mad dogs everywhere, East
West, North aud South. Aud the alarD
is no idle Que, as st least a score of lives
horribly lost, attest. Can il be that The
unusually severe winter has had ythine
10 do with this strange .deyelopmerl'
Whatever may be the cause. Ahe consr-
quences are so awful that il is the duty &c
those whose position aud knowledge enas
bic them to mike m investigator Of ibs