Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-26
Hydrophabia--Terrible sufferinss Of a
Young Lady.

Some eight weeks ago, Miss Selma Eller,
o Young lady of twenty-five years, residing at
Beek's Station, Hamilton county, was bitten
by rabid dog while she was endeaVorinIg TO-
drive him out of the house. The wound was
SO slight that it excited no alarm, although
the,dog was known to be mad.
AS usual in cases of hydrophobia, nothing
more was thought about the matter 6y her
until the morning of Monday, the 25th ult;,
when, on going TO wash her face, the touch
of water " made her shudder," as she descrio,
ed it. The fearful truth flashed on her mind
instantly, but being lady of great self-eom-
maud, she simply said to her sister; IL am
going to 20 mad; can't live" adding that
She would, however, finish spinning the
rolln she was at work upon. She worked on.
during the day, with some increase OF the
symptoms, but nothing visible to others, and
the next morning on sitting down to the Ia
BILE, she remarked 10. the family, "you must
take that water. from the table, or | can't eat
anything" She ate but little, and got up
saying tbat she would go to work.
She continued through the day as before,
but with o. decided repugnauce to water,
which she said " the very sight of sent ting.
ling sensation all through her, She also
complained that the glistening face of the
clock affected her in the same way.
On Wednesday she was too far overcome
to work, and while standing on the floor talk
ing 10 some Of her family, she Uegan grinding
her teeth, the foam wc-king out of her mouth,
her teeth gnashing,A her body frighttuliy.
copyulsed, as she fell down in fit. Some of
the Younger children who were with her at
the time, ran out in great alarm, and the neigh
bors hurrying in, found her on the floor, near
the fire, in the same terrible condition, but
she bit SO furiously at every one who touch
ed her that it was impossible to do anything
with her.
The fire was removed that she might not
'injure herself by it, and she was LETT lying
until the spasm had passed off. She was
placed upon bed then, and DR.. Rocker was
sent for. When he arrived she was again
seuseless and copvulsed, ultering short, bark
ing sounds, and swapping ut everything taat
approached her. He caused her TO be tied
down upon the bed, and proceeded to apply
morphine to relieve her agony. In q lucid
interval she demonstrated, saying, +" must
die in my senses don't stup1fy me- with med
icine."
After another fit the doctor proposed az
other dose of morphine, and ct last she con-
sented. But this remedy produced little eff
feet. The awful paroxysms continued, with
the same frightful suggestions of the doggish
sound. and the same frantic effort to bite.
She bit her hands terribly, and bit pieces out
of the pillow and be6-clotbes. DR.. A. D..
Roddle was also called in, but his asss-
tance was as unayailing as that OF Dr.
Rocker.
This we believe was the next day when
DR.. Rocker determined to try the effect OF
bromide of potassium, which had been re-
commended by some European physician in
cases of hydrophobia. DR.. Roddle happening
to have small quantity with him, it was at,
once administered, and its use has been stead
ily kept up until nearly two ounces have been
given. The symptoms continued with little
or no abatement till Sunday when they were
considerably marked. The fits occurred less trc-
qucntly and with less severity. The unior,
.unate lady had ceased biting herself and
had sufficient knowledge of her situation to
wrap her arms up in the bed-clothes tightly
when she felt spasn coming on, to keep
them out of danger. Thou:h very far from
being out of danger, the abatement of the
symptoms has been so decided as to create
some hopes of her recovery, which, if realized
will make this one of the most remarkable
cases on record.
Intelligence CT later date than the above
says that Miss E!ler is rapidly recovering un-
der the treatment Of bromide of potassium.
Every physician in the country should be
made acquainted with the treatment of this
case.-Iadianapolis Journal.