The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-02-08
Hydrophobia without a Cause.
tFyom the Chicago Times, January 07.l

Within the past five days most Pc
culiar case of hydrophobia has made its
appearance in this city-peculiar, from
the fact that the victim, in his sane mo-
ments, positively asserts that he never
has been bitten by dog. Some of the
acquaintances ofthe unfortunate patient
claim that he was bitten q number of
years ago. The name of the sufferer is
George Reiter. He is stalwart German
% years of age, and has for some time
been employed as engineer in the pack
ing house of p. j. Bowes. He resides
with his mother and sisters in the second
house from the northwest corner of
Green and Harrison streets. The first
symptoms of the terrible disease were OBJ
served on last Sunday night. George
had been in the house the greater part
of the evening, enjoying the society of
his family. At the supper table nothing
unusual developed itself, and for an hour
and half afterwards he conducted him
self us if in the possession of al his men
tai faculties Suddenly he was seized
with terrible spasms. He writhed like
a snake. His face became red, purple,
black. His eyes gleamod with the ter
rible fire of insanity, and protruded from
their sockets. The affrighted women
rushed terror-stricken from the house,
and alarmed their neighbors. Some
men entered the room where George was
lying, ard succeeded, with great danger
to themselves, in securing him. 1t was
several minutes before the effects of the
convulsions passed away, after which he
spoke nationally and inquired what he
had been doing what great weight had
laid upon him, and similar questions
betraying Inconsistencies of the awful
struggle through which he had passed.
When he was informed of the nature of
the attack he grew pale and ssaid {:
Friends, keep away from me. l shall
be seized again, and l may hurt you. 1
would not do any of you injury for the
world. Oh, keep away. keep away 7"
Shortly after this he was attacked with
more horrible convulsions than the first.
Four men taxed their utmost strength to
pin him to the floor, but failed, and adj
ditional help had to be summoned. A
doctor was called. He reached the house
Just as the effects of the second attack
were passing away, and the victim was
lying enteebled and helpless on a couch.
He examined him, prescribed some reme-
dies, and waited to witness their efficacy.
The instant the medicine was placed to
the sick mans lips he was again seized
with convulsions, the attack being much
more severe than the second. He went
out Of one spasm into another all day
Monday, and nobody knew wnat to do
with him except to hold him down and
l. III L.,
somebody else. On Tuesday morning
it was decided to transfer him to the
Mercy Hospital. Before doing so, how
ever, DR.. Treat was summoned, and he,
together with two other physicians, re-
paired to Georges residence. The in
slant DR.. Treat saw him and beheld the
nature of the convulsive attacks, he pro-
nounccd the disease to be an intensified
case ofhydrophobia. Preparations were
made to move the sufferer to the hospi-
tai as soon as he came back to conscious
ness. He was wrapped up as warmly as
possible and borne to covered carriage.
DR.. Treat and two others rode with him.
When the carriage reached the vicinity
of the river it stopped for few minutes.
Though the streets were screened from
river was nowhere in sight, the instant
the carriage stopped Georges eyes grew
wild, and he cried out: "Oh don't go
near the river. We are near the water
Keep away from it, Don't let me see
it " He Immediately went into convul-
sions, grew purple in the face, his lips
became flecked with foam, and he snap
ped, and barked, and ground his teeth
i'll a manner that struck terror to the
heart of DIR. Treat even, who had wit
messed many cases of hydrophobia, but
none that equalled that under his care.
The river was crossed while the spasm
lasted, and the patient BECAME conscious
before the hospital was reached. He
was carried into the building without
any difficulty, and seated in chair with
his legs stretched out and his feet form
ing angles between the floor and wall.
DIR. Treat accidentally placed some white
paper beneath them. The sight of it
threw him into convulsions. He threw
his arms out and held them MS rigid as
bars of iron. DIR. Treat, who was sitting
near him, grasped one arm to hold him
down. The instant the patient felt the
touch he raised his stiffened arm above
his head, and actually lifted the doctor
out of his chair and from off the floor.
DR.. Treat staid with him until evening,
and administered such remedies, by the
process of injection, as his knowledge of
the disease indicated. He states that
the patient cannot possibly recover, as
each succeeding convulsion leaves him
weaker. The mere mention of the words
"water" or drinking" is sufficient to
bring on spasms. The physicians con-
fess that they are unable to do anything
with the case, more especially as the pa
tient claims that he has never been bit
ten. Dr. Treat and other prominent
physicians will visit him this morning
but the former does not expect to find
him alive.