The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-05
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JOURNAL. FRIDAY, APRIL

her body frightfully convulsed. Some
| of the Younger children, who were
with her at the time, 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 so furiously at every one who
touched her that it was impossible to
do anything with her. The fire was
removed so that she might not injure
herself by it, and she was left lying
till the spasm had passed off. She
was then placed upon the bed, and
DIR. Rocker called in. When he ar
rived she was again convulsed, and
senseless, uttering short barking
sounds. and swapping at everything that
approached her. A bloody froth was
constantly issuing from her mouth,
which she tried to spit at those
around her. He caused her to be
tied down in the bed, and proceeded
to administer morphine, to relieve
her agony. In lucid interval, she
demonstrated, saying: II must die;
L know it, and [ want to die In my
senses; so don't Supply me with med
| icine'l ,Aftef another fit. the doc
tor proposed. another dose ofiimer-
phine. and at last she consented, but
added: You must not give it to
me with water But this remedy
produced but little effect. The aw-
full psroxysms continued, with the
same frightful suggestions of doggish
sound, and the same frantic efforts TO
bite. She bit her hands terribly, aud
bit pieces out of the pillow and bed
clothes. 4e DR.. A g. Ruddle
was also called in, but his
as that Of DIR. Rocker. This
we believe, was the next day, Thurs
day, but at all events on that day Dr.
Rocker determined to try the effect
Of :. bromide of potassium" which
had been recommended by some Eu-
ropean physician in cases of hydro
phobia. DR.. Ruddle happening to
have a small quantity with him, II was
at once administered, and the treatment
has been steadily kept up since, till
yesterday nearly two ounces had been
given. The symptoms continued with
littlesDr no apparent abatement TIL
Sunday or yesterday, when they were
considerably less marked. The fits oc-
Cured less frequently, and with less Sc
verify. The unfortunate lady had ceas-
ed biting herself. and had sufficient
Knowledge of her situation to wrap
her arms up tightly in the bed clothes,
when she felt the spasm coming on,
to keep them out of danger. Though
very far from being out of danger, the
abatement of the symptoms has been
so decided, as to create some hope of
her recovery. which, if realized, will
make this one Of the most remarkable
cases on record. A great many phys
icians and hundreds of the people of
the vicinity have visited her. and some
of our city physicians, we understand,
will visit her to-day. :
The case has, as may well be sup
posed, created perfect crusade
against the dogs in all the region
round about. The citizens Of Mobiles
vile, some seven or eight miles north,
made a general attack on their dog
population a few days since, and
killed all they could fpd. -
The prevalence of hydrophobia all
over this State this winter, is singular.
We hear of mad dogs everywhere,
East, West, North and South. And
the alarm is no idle one, as at least a
score of lives horribly lost, attest.
Can it be that the unusually severe
winter has had anything to doiwith
this strange development? Whatever
may be the cause, the consequences
are so awful that it is the duty of
those whose position and knowledge
enable them to make an investigation
of the matter, to do so.