The Republican journal., 1873-06-26
Distressing Case of Hydrophobia .
From the Baltimore Gazette


One of the most distressing illustrations
of the terrible effects of that dreadful
disease hydrophobia that has ever occurred
in this city has been developed, resulting
in the death of two men, while grave ap-
prehensions are being felt by the friends
of a third. 1t appears, upon investigation.
that about three weeks ago Mr.. Ferdinand
Freybe, a wealthy butcher, residing in
the village of Clifton, on the Hookstown
road, about half a mile from the city
limits, had q large dog of the bull species,
which he employed in watching the
premises. About the time indicated the
animal appeared to be sick, Charles
Freybe, aged about 20 years, son of Mr.
Freybe. and two men employed upon the
place, named Anton Aues and Herman
Drussell, attempted to remove him to an
other part of the yard, where it was de-
signed placing him under a shed. In
doing so, however, the animal resisted
them, and before he was secured beneath
the shed had bitten each of them on the
hands, inflicting slight wounds, some Of
them being mere punctures of the skin
But little attention was paid to the wounds
by the persons bitten, and no one thought
OF serious consequences ensuing. AS u
precautionary measure the dog was shot,
and the subject dismissed from the minds
of all. On last Saturday Mr.. Auer, while
on visit to his brother-i in-law's house,
on the Frederick road. three miles from
the city, was seized with convulsions.
Several physicians were summoned, and
united in expressing the opinion that il was
case of hydrophobia. He continued in
great agony until Tuesday morning, when
death ensued.
On Monday young Freybe rode out with
a physician to see Mr.. Auer, and found
him in a violent spasm, and uttering
howls closely resembling those of dog.
Mr.. Freybe remained in the room for
some time. and stood at the bedside fan
ming the patient, but was greatly Mortified
at the awful spectacle, and soon after re-
turned home, and appeared deeply affect
ed at having witnessed the scene, and de
scribed vividly to a number of persons
the particulars of Auer's distressed condi-
ton and symptoms.
On Tuesday morning Mr.. Freybe visited
the Lexington Market for the purpose of
attending to the business entrusted to him
by his father, who left on a visit to Ger
| many two weeks ago, and while standing
at the stall in the market was taken i'll,
| and before he could be placed in a carriage
| was seized with q convulsion. He was
| at once removed to his home, and the best
medical skill procured, but all efforts
| failed to afford the slightest relief, and
the unfortunate young man died about [
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Upon his
being brought from the market on Tues
day the news of his illness was rapidly
communicated in the neighborhood, and
yesterday morning several hundled per
sons congregated around the house and
remained until his death ensued.
Those who were in attendance on the
patient describe his convulsions as of the
| most horrible character, and his sufferings
intense beyond description. At times he
| would howl, whine, and bark like dog,
| and when in his most violent spasms his
howlings could be heard quarter of !,
mile distant, and naturally had the effect
| of creating great excitement, and of eX-
citing the sympathies of all for the sui
terer. Mr.. Freybe, the father of the de-
ceased, as stated was at home when the
men were bitten, but with others had
| given himself no concern about them, and
on sailing for Germany lett his large
business solely il charge of his eldest son,
who recently graduated at a German uni
versity, and is highly spoken of by all
who knew him. The cable will convey
the first intimation of the sad affair to Mr.
Freybe upon his arrival in Germany.
The third person bitten by the dog,
Herman Drussell, after learning of the
death of Auer, and the condition of young
Freybe. before his death, started yester-
| day afternoon to visit an old woman on
the York road, who is reported as possess
ing cure for bites Of mad dogs. What
his condition now is was not learned up
to late hour last night, but his friends
are seriously alarmed about him.
A rumor prevailed at late hour last
night that Drussell had also died of hydro
phohia, the correctness of which could
not be traced to a reliable source.
| FAMILY CONJINDpIrM At an o1orant