The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-12
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the Cincinnati Gazette of Saturday

From The Cincinnati Gazette Of Saturday.
Two weeks ago yesterday Mrs. S. E. Moss.
who lives on Seventh street between Walnut
and Vine streets, was playing with q little
pet dog, only three months old. While thus
engaged two children came In from a neigh
bor's house, and, taking them on the sofa, she
transferred to them her attentions. AS the
servant, who CHANGED TO be In the room, ex-
presses 1t, the dog became apparently ieal-
Gus OF the children, and in revenge bit Mrs.
Moss" His teeth made two little scratches, one
near the thumb and the other on the wrist
such scratches as might be produced by O pin,
the blood flowing from neither. Immediately
after infiicting the wound the dog ran directly
from the room, was chased mp stairs, where he
leaped pom the bed, caught the pillows be-
tween his teeth, shook them thy, biting
them meantime, then rushed like g wild thing
from the house and into the back yard, where
he was killed.
Mrs. Moss paid apparently but little atten-
tion TO the two trifing scratches. At any rate,
1t was not till evening (seven or eight hours
after that she called on DR.. Pulte and had
the little matter attended to. The Doctor
cauteriZed the wounds with nitrate of silver,
and in this treatment he has persevered.
Mrs. Moss has continued TO attend to her
little home duties, bestowing no attention and
no thought to the matter. She has occasion
ally felt a slight sickness al. her stomach, and
1t has been noticed that her appetite was some
what irregular. The Doctor appears to have
been more concerned about the matter, and
has on more than one occasion expressed his
fears Of a fatal result to members of the
family. Such fears, both on the part Of the
Doctor ard friends, at last had the effect of
causing Mrs. Moss to determine to pay a visit
to Mrs. Wormsley, q lady who resides at
| Cieves, and who Is said TO own a maidstone.
The visit was to be made Saturday, but when
Saturday afternoon came O driZZling shower
prevented the trip.
Yesterday noon two ladies were about con-
| Guiding O call on Mrs. Moss. Their hats were
on, and they had already risen to take their
leave. At that moment, they say, Mrs.
Moss's eye suddenly became filled with a wild
glare, her limbs stiffened, from her mouth
issued the terrible evidence OF h~ydrophobia,
and with a wild scream she cried that the dog
was near her.
There is little need to follow the awful
scene that ensued; no need to picture the
horror.stricken family, the hasty cry for
help, the moments that passed before that
help came, each moment seeming q century;
the fearful helplessness that overpowered
every one who thought to bring aid, and their
utter ignorance Of the remedies. In that ter
rible moment it was resolved to seek at once
for the maidstone, for where else turn no one
knew. "
Wormsley, and late last night the stone was
brought. During the intervening hours the
awful spasms, which are the concomitants Of
hy~drophobia, continued, their fury lasting
from three to ten minutes, when they would
release their hold. The physicians in attend
ance began to despair of the case, and all
hope seemed to be lost. About II o'clock the
little stone was applied, and when our re-
| porter visited the house about midnight) the
lady was more quiet. During the hour but n
single spasm had occurred, and that of not
such violence as had characterized the previ-
Gus attacks. Our reporter was allowed to
enter the room where the patient was lying.
Four persons were present-three ladies and
! a gentleman. One of the ladies was holding
the patients hand in her own. and on the
back Of the hand the stone was %clinging.
In color it looked like a California diamond,
It's form was oval, its length about an inch,
and it's breadth half as much. In its healing
virtue Mrs. Wormsley and her son, who were
| present, were putting great faith, telling of
strange cures it had already performed.
We had been examining the stone for q few
| minutes, when suddenly the patient raised
her eyes and saw bending over her the face of
a stranger. With 4 scream that thrilled the
heart, making the blood run cold with horror,
she leaped from the bed, and, amid sobs and
cries, shouted her fear of the pursuing dogs.
We left the room at once, and she speedily be-
came more quiet, and when we departed from
the house was again breathing regularly, and
| was free from all delirum.
How this awful case may terminate we cam
| not, of course, tell. Should the stone prove
efficacious in the case, it will be yet, we are
told, two or three days before it has performed
its full Offices. In the terrible uncertainty
! and anxiety it is yet comforting and assuring
to know that Mrs. Wormsley processes un-
bounded faith in its success.