Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-24
Dreadful Death from HydrOphObia.

| The victim of the hydrophobia was
man named Richard Staples, who had
served in the Marine Corps, whence he
was discharged some years ago. Since
then he has been employed at his trade as
carpenter in Chicago and in this city. He
| was attacked, about three months ago, while
in Chicago, by small dog, which appar-
entity inflicted no wound upon him, but
| the symptoms of the horrible disease made
| their appearance on Wednesday last.
Some two or three weeks ago he was no.
ticed to be very morose and low-spirited.
| On Sunday last he complained of general
his hands. He next complained of pains
| in his back and in his head. A physician
was called, but by Wednesday morning the
symptoms were not far enough advanced
| to warrant the suppOsitiOn that it was by
drophobia. About six O'Clock Wednes-
day evening it was found he could not
swallow. 1t was then that the unmistaka-
bic symptoms Of hydrophobia were first
developed, The back of his throat became
perfectly blue, and presented a terrible APP
pearance. Calling for glass of water,
the patient took it in both hands, con
veycd it to his mouth. and clenched his
teeth on the glass, at the same time max
ing an unusual noise in his throat. This
was the first pdroXysm. His pulse at the
time beat about one hundred, and the
pupils of his eyes were dilated, as well as
his nostrils. Thursday morning the par
oNysms were more violent, and his pulse
was SO rapid that it could not be counted
About halt-past twelve that morning he
became so violent that it was deemed ex-
pedient to secure him, pair of handouts
and leg irons being procured and put on
his hands and legs with the greatest diff
Guilty. 1t took six men to hold him while
the irons were being put on. He Law
down on the floor, folded his hands
over his breast and stated that he
was going to die in that position, having
first summoned his wife and friends and
babe them all goodbye He next request
ed Rev. Mr.. Wilson, of the Virginia. ave
nue. Methodist Protestant church, to sine
and pray with him, and for at least TWEEN
ty-tive minutes, while these spiritual eXer-
clses were kept up, he seemed perfectly
composed. Then another paroXvsm came
on and he went off into violent contor
tons. Even while these spasms lasted he
seemed to be rational, and when they
passed OIL he always seemed Frustrated
While they lasted he foamed at the mouth
and there was continual desire to spit
These discharges were a tenacious mucus
some blood
Singing was the only thing that seemed
to have soothing effect upon him and
threw him into state Of ecstasy, but as
soon as the singing stopped and the sound
OF the voice was lost on the auditory nerve
the parOXysm returned As soon as the
singing commenced he would begin to
beat his thigh and stamp his feet. and
soon every muscle in his body would he
moving. His eyes presented frigbtful
appearance and glared wildly. His pulse
could not be counted at all, and the inter |
'als between the paroXysms grew shorter
and shorter No remedy had any effect |
upon him.
AT first hypodermic injection of half a
gram OF morphia was given, but it sootbed |
nm for a short time only. Then the iniec-
tlon was increased to one and a quarter
grams, ana this large quantity injected
unoer the SKIN, equal to about six grains |
OF OPIUM, qua not quiet him for longer
period than an hour. A powerful stimn-
latlng liniment was used to rub the snine
and hydrate of choral given, but witboyt
effect. While the paroxysms were on hin,
ne begged those around him to kill him
When DIR. Mckim visited him Yesterday
morning and found him in irons he IT
first thought he would take them off b,1t
on making movement to do so, he found
It would be very dangerous to release HIM
The patient was then lying on the floor
having broken down his bedstead in his
rawlings: He cried out at the top of biS
voice while the paroxysms lasted. and the
splitting, increased rapidly Thursday night
he was kept quiet good part of the time
py .ne singing OF his friends, who did
everything IN their power to relieve his
yesterday, morning there were
seaaeeif any intervals 1i1e between the parox-
while his sufferings seemed intense p mn1;i
ten o'clock, when death released him
Washington paper. "Seo him' .