The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-03

Hydrophobia assumes some queer aspects.
Mccormick died of hydrophobia, and it is,
we believe, admitted this disease was the
cause of Buffers death; yet an uncommon
number of the authorities seem to agree that
the printer, Entwistle, died not from hydro
phobia, but from sheer fright at the thought
that he had it Entwistle however, was very
severely bitten by dog, as has been shown.
Perhaps this dog was not mad. But I'rs.
Hammond, Hamilton and Gross are evidently
serious in their notion that, though McCor-
mick died of hydrophobia the dog which
bit him was not mad and had never been
mad, and is now alive and well. BY this
theory, therefore, it needs only that man
should be bitten, not that the dog should be
mad, in order to communicate this disease
Yet Entwisne was bitten, and equally stanch
authorities assure us that he was not mad, but
only frightened to death. How do the doc
tors reach conclusions so absurdly incon-
sistent? All this contradiction is, of course,
simply the consequence Of the general igno-
rance OF this malady in the medical profession.
There are but very few facts in the history of
this disease upon which medical men, seeing
different cases, can agree as common to oil.
Undoubtedly the main one of these is the
horror of water; yet there are plenty of doc
tors who argue that there is no horror of
water in the whole course of the malady, and
Immediately put the case down as one of de-
fusion when people begin to describe this as q
symptom. Ii they are so little able to agree
upon that point their agreement upon others
is very little to be depended upon; and whether
a man is reputed to have died of hydrophobia
or Of fright is likely to turn only upon what
hands he fell into for treatment. They who
believe in hydrophobia can see it everywhere,
and they who do not cannot see it at all If
Entwistle had fallen into the hands of those
who practised on Mccormick we should have
heard of his death from hydrophobia; and if
Mccormick had been in the hands of En-
twistles doctors he would have been reported
as frightened to death ~ name.
One good fact in the present excitement is
that it will direct scientific attention more
closely to this disease, not merely here, but
results may come. Hydrophobic LESSONS are
already in some degree localized. Difficult
degutition and spasmodic action of the laryn-
geal and pharyngeal muscles are definitely
recognized as obvious facts Of the morbid
phenomena and the steps in the causation of
these phenomena will certainly not be forever
hidden, and, with the present methods of OBJ
servation, may be discovered at an early day.
DR.. Hammond, of this city, and a precursor
in England have already observed some
structural changes of nerve substance near
the points of origin of the spinal accessory
nerve and other nerves that supply the parts
more or less Immediately involved. Up to
this time we see no special reasons for regard
ing these observations as great triumphs of
modern science. They may be the causes
or the results OF the striking symp-
toms that are grouped under the
name of this disorder. If results they
gan have no special value; but if they are
causes they at most indicate the direction of
further inquiry. Why should the failure of
irritation in certain nerves, which should re-
duce the effective power of these nerves, coin
eide with phenomena which are exhibitions of
excessive force? Irregular actions, actions of
apparently exaggerated force, are no doubt
often due to deranged and reduced condi-
ton of the nervous system, and it may be so
here. 1t is just possible that in cases of this
nature the energetic action is due to the fact
that group of nerves ordinarily under con-
troll is set free the controlling nerve or nerves
being crippled by the disease. If this could
fairly be conjectured as likely occurrence in
hydrophobia it would indicate surgical opera
ton for the section Of the offending nerves as
the remedy most likely to be effective, for the
galvanic current over the weakened nerves
might complete the operation Of the poison
by exhausting their vitality. For investign-
ton in this line there is fine opportunity
for the vivisectors.