Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-08-19
A IsEsEADEGa DEATH.
a Faby Dies OF nsydr0pbo0ia-An
Awiul Cause.-The eEitsl Tears ltS
siS:R,ing anU Marks like IL Dog.


From the Chicago Republican, August
y little son Of John M'Ginnis, an en-
ploycc nj the stock yards, died last Satur-
day morning OF hylrophobia. The age of
the child was one year ana nine months.
The case is somewhat singular one, and
therefore we give il with some particular
ity of detail. Very few cases are on record
of the fearful complaint attacking one so
young. The position taken by certain au-
thoiitics that the disease is simply Of the
imagination is here proved to be unJcnablc.
An unroasoning infant, just beginning to
prattlc, is not likely so be 50 disturbed by
the fear OF imaginary physical troubles as
to I've in this manner hArricd out Of the
world.
The child was bitten little over q month
ago. The mother had one day seated it
OH the ground at the back door of the house,
whci. Il large Newfoundland dog belonging
to n butcher named Shulcr, living in the
ncighbogRood, came suddenly rUshng up
to the child and bit it. No one about the
house had seen this animal previously.
Three ugly wounds were inflicted rlon
the tender infant by the ravagiug animal
one at the side Of the left tclnr,r. onolhc,
between the eyes, and thc tnrd on the toy
OF The head near the >ugc of the hair. The
Drutc showed every symptom of madness
ioah''nS at the mouth, swapping at every.
/ th.ng it passed, without stopping to vent
its rage upon any particular object.
The wounds upon the child soon healed
only one slight scar on the nose remaining
The matter faded from the recollection o,
the parents. Last Wednesday morning
The infant began to show singular signs o
irritation, commenced tearing oilits cloLhc
at the same time uttcring low, waling cries
and complaining of thirst. But Whci
water was offered TO ii the most distressing
writhing Of the jaws and cOnvulsive move
ments of the face and throat followed. Nc
one seemed Mt first to know the real cause
Of the trouble. The startled mother did
all in her power to restore her infant It
ease and quiet. Thinking 1t might be suf-
fGring from the heat, she took oil some O
the supcriluous clothing. The wise womcl
of the ncinhbOrhoOd gathered in and gave
in their diagnosis Of the disease. Some
said the complaint was dipthcria, and som'
said the poor little thing was tCcthing
All day Wednesday the little sufferer cXhi
bitcd the same symptom, seeming, however
all the time to suffer more acutely. it pull
cd and tugged ut its clothing with suCl
energy as to tear off the buttons, an,
throw its arms about in the most agoniZet
manner.
This continued until Friday night
neither mother nor child sleeping, Th
infant took no uourishmcnt during all thi
time, and when water was offered wen
iuLo conyulsions, seeming to reject it witt
horror.
DIR. W. W. Goodman, living at the Roc
island car works, was summoned on Fri
day evening, lie at once told the grici
stricken parents that their child was dyin
fhydrOphohia, and nothing could DO don
to save it. lie administered morphia with
out effect. The child was apparently i
the last stages of the disease. In its con
vusions it sceTcd endowed with prefer
natural strength.
The foam which issued from its mout
was stained with blood. 1t uttered an in
/ ccssant whine, which those about it com
pared to the whining of Il dog. WhCncvc
the hands Of those attending it approachr
its face the efforts TO bite were manifest
canine, Although but just commuucin
10 talk, 1t repeatedly uttered the word
, dog" during the night preceding is doatl
as il ii had somehow in its diseased iulh
= tile brain mystcrlously associated tho idc
! ofits present sullerings with its being bite
a month hptogc,
At o'clock on Saturday death came |
the relief Of The sufferer, From Wcdnc
p day morning until .his hour no uourisl
, meat and notR drop OF water had passl
p lis lips, Tho case Is u peculiar one, an
should attract the general attention OF Il
medical world,