The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-29
HYDROPHOBIA I'm ST. LOUIS.


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Two Shocking Cases-A Boy Goes Mad frsm
being Licked by Half Rnbid Dog while
Asleep-Horrible Symptoms.
From the ST. Louis Republican, July 26.l
We have another case OF hydrophobia to chron-
fcle, the victim being boy about sixteen years
Of age, who WAS yesterday removed from the
Health Office to the City Hospital in state fearful
to Witness There Is something SO peculiar about
cases Of this shocking malady that full state
ment of the particulars will be interesting, even
If 1t forms n sad tale to read. The boys name is
Adolph Herbestel, and he has for some time been
employed as waiter in the Supreme Court hall
restaurant on Chestnut street, opposite the court
house. He has proved himself steady, indus
trious young man and gained the respect and es-
TEEN OF his employers and associates. He lived at
b23 Poplar street, where most of the young
men employed in the restaurant also
stopped, and until recently enjoyed excellent
health and was of robust frame and consttu.
ton. One night about four weeks ago. the heat
being very oppressive, the boy moved portion
OF his clothes into the yard, where he slept the
called Sultan, large hunting spaniel, belonging
to the proprietor of the house, but the animal
was then, 30 far as is known, in a normal condi-
ton It does notIappear that young Herbestel
was bitten that night. He made no mention of
anything OF the sort, nor were any marks Of in
jury noticed by any of his companions in the
morning. One side of his face was blackened.
but this was attributed to his having rubbed it
history OF the dog was calculated to excite I'M
easiness; and would have done So only neither
young Herbestel nor his friends had any knowl-
edge of his being bitten. The next morning
ing through the yard noticed something
strange about the dog. He approached the
animal when it snapped at him, and then,
convinced that something was wrong and the
animal should be tied up, he caught it by the back
of the neck, dragged it some little distance and
tied 1T up receiving not even scratch in the pro-
cess. 1t was fortunate act, for few days after
wards the brute died under all the symptoms Of
hydrOphobia. Now we come to the awful fate of
the boy. There is no doubt that during the night
above alluded to, when the boy slept in the yard,
the fatal virus was communicated to him by the
dog then probably in half rabid condition. There
are no marks Of bite upon his person, but it is
thought that the dog licked one Of his hands, on
which there was small scar from recent cut or
else his lips and mouth, and so the poison entered
his system IL is also stated that the boy had the
rash of "prckly heat" out on his arms with
which the saliva Of the dog may have come in
contact. During more than three weeks after this
night the boy appeared to enjoy his usual health
and never said anything to indicate that he appre-
hended any misfortune or sickness. On Thursday
last he complained of feeling unwell, spoke of
pain in the head and full tense feeling across the
stomach. His symptoms were aggravated next
day; on Saturday clear case Of hydrophobia
was defined. DIR. Reimberger was called in and at
the time no one about the premises understood
the character of the attack. IL was apparent,
asked il the boy had been bitten by dog At
first the answer was in the negative; but finally
the fate of the dog, which had died few weeks
before, was recolected, and also the fact that the
boy had passed night quite close to where the
brnte lay, and this if anything was wanting, set
tied the character of the case. The doctor used
such remedies as seemed proper, and the boys
father, who lives at Rock Spring, was sent for.
On Saturday and Sunday the case developed itself
in all its fearful features. The mind of the
wretched boy wandered at intervals, but for the
most OF the time he knew his friends and his
father. His eyes glowed luminous with wild light
as If they would start from their sockets. He
painted sharp and quick like a dog suffering from
heat, and frequent spasms visited him, often pro-
duced and always aggravated by the sight of
water, OF which he had a painful dread. He
said he had got "bad sickness" and was
going to die; but he appeared to know nothing
Of its character. Once when friend invited
him to come to the river TO battle he shuddered
fearfully and said, ooh. if | should touch the
water | should fall.' At times paroxysms of
violence seized him. and rendered it dangerous to
approach him unless he forcbly restrained.
He snarled and snapped like a dog, while froth
gathered on his lips, and he barred his teeth like
an animal. At one time he seized the pillows
and other articles in the room and hurled them at
his father, driving him from the apartment. In
this state OF huctuating spasm and quiet he re-
manned all Sunday and was brought to the eath
Office yesterday in the same condition. He was
indeed pitiable object to look upon. His eyes
seemed to protrude beyond his brows, while his
swollen tongue moved In Inc quick, painting mo-
ton OF dog. He was evidently wearied almost
to death by the nervous excitement but the fever
and frenzy in his blood made rest impossible
Now human being, rational, if suffering, and
again, in another moment, more like a mad dog
in face and act, with no speech but sound like u
half strangled bark
He remained at the Health Office some time and
was treated by DR.. Barrett, Health Officer, and
was then removed to the City Hospital. Three
policemen had to accompany him in the ambu.
lance, 80 violent did he occasionally become. His
recovery was considered hopeless, for hydropho-
bia more completely battles medical skill than
even cholera. .IIr.. .tI
Since the above was written we learn that the
boy died at the hospital yesterday evening. In
cases OF hydrophobia that has been developed
for a long time, and IL will doubtless attract a
good deal of attention. There is something almost
incredible in the statement that a person could be
innoculated with the fatal virus and be wholly I'M
conscious Of the fact or that any misfortune had
happened him until fully under the power of the
deadly malady.
-.I ~. a ANOTHER CASE .,t boo
Another shocking case of hydrophobia was also
developed yesterday The victim is also q boy,
aged seventeen years, who lives with his parents
on Cherokee street. His name is Harry Buckley
About eight or nine days ago he was bitten by
dog, which does not seem TO have been generally
considered mad at the time. Some remedies were
used, but unavailingly; for hydrophoba in all its
unmistakable symptoms was developed Yesterday
Dr. Vessel was called in by the father and ex.
pressed most unfavorable opinion of the case.
There was dread of water, spasms and frantic
tendency to snap and bite. The patient yesterday
afternoon was very unmanageable and had 70 be
tied down to the bed.
BROOKLYN CITY NEWS.