Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-08
IFron the indianapolis Journal j

le ere, IFron the indianapolis Journal1 =
Some eight weeks ago, Miss Selma Eller,
an intelligent young lady of twenty-two
years, daughter of Mr.. Harvey Eller, re-
siding at Beck's station, on the Peru rail-
road, in Hamilton. cqunty, some fifteen
miles north of this city, was bitten by q
rabid, dog while she was endeayorlng to
drive him oatof the house. The wound was
on the finger, and so very slight that it ex-
eitedno alarm, although the dog was known
to be mad. AS usual in cases OtdydfOphoDla,
shethought nothingimore about the mat
terauntii the morning of Monday the 10th
nlts when on going to wash her face the
touch of the water : made her shudder," as
she described it, The fearful truth flashed
on lfer Instantly. but being a lady OF great
self-eommand, she simply said to her sister.
= / am going to go mad; can't liye,p adj
ding that she would, however, F." finish
spinning the rolls" she was engaged upon.
ISheiworked on during the day with some
increase of the horrible symptoms, but
nothing visible to Others; and the next
incoming. ON sitting down to the table. she
remarked to the iamilys . SYou must take
that water from the table, or | can't eat
anythiDg.n She ate but a little, and got up
saying she would go TO work again. She
continued through, the day as before. but
with a decided strengthening of her re-
pugnance to water, of which she said, "the
very sight sent a tingling feeling 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 Foverconle to work, and while
standing on the el.foor. speaking to some
of 1.-The family, she began grinding her
teeth, and directly after fell down in a
fit, the foam working out of her mouth. her,
teeth gnashing, and her body frightfully
cOnVulsed.l Some of the younger children.
who were with her at the time, ran out in
OrQaf alarm and the rh hharS hn rrUiflU in
found her on the floor near the fire, in the.
same terrible condition, but she bit so fu-l
riously at every one who touched her that
1t was impossible TO do anything with her..
The fire was removed so that she might not
injpre herself by it. and she was lett lying
until the ,pasIn had passed off. She was
then placed ppon the bed, and DIR. Rocker.
called fn. When he arrived she was again
conVulsed and Senseless,. uttering short,
barking sounds, and swapping at every
thing that approached her. A bloody froIh.
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,
aud proceeded to administer morphine to
relieve her agony. In a lucid interval she
demonstrated, saying, Il must die. know
it, and want to die in my senses, so don't
sthpefy me with medicine" After another
fit, the doctor proposed another dose of
morphine, and at last she consented, but
water" But this remedy produced little
effect The awful paroxysms continued,
with the same IrightIul suggestions of
doggish sound and the same frantic efforts
to bite. She bit her hands terribly, and bit
pieces ont of the pillow and bed clothes.
DIR. "A. o. Ruddle was also called in, but
his assistance was as unaYailing as that of
DIR. :, Rocker. This, we believe, was the
next day, Thursday, but, at all events, on
that day DR.. Rocker determined to try the
effect of bromide of potassium, which had
been recommended by some European
physician in cases of, hydrophobla. DR.,
Ruddle happening to have small quantity
with him, it was at once administered, and
the treatment has been steadily kept up
since, till nearly two ounces had been given.
The symptoms continued with little or no
apparent abatement till Sunday or Yester-
day, when they were considerably less
marked. The fits occurred less frequently,
and with less severity. The unfortunate
lady had ceased 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 abate-
n1ent 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 physicians and hundreds of the
people Of1the vicinity have visited her, and
some of our city physicians, we understand,
will Visither to day.