The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-08-07
PIETRO.
SPONTANEOUS ORIGIN OF HYDRO
PHOBIA-

Does hydrOphObia ever originate spon-
taneuuSly in animals, and does it origin
ate 50 in man4 There are numerous ex-
awpleS before us that it does. Flem-
ming cites very remarkable example of
small dog which was being transported
IN France on a railroad car The loco
motive whistle sounded and the dog be-
came very much excited. No matter
what the owner did. he could not quiet
him. and finally he had TO get out of the
ear. taking the dog with him. The dog
afterward died with perfectly scientific
hydrophobia symptoms If the disease
originates spontaneously in animals, and
there seems to be no doubt of it, why
can it not originate spontaneously in
man. under the influence of emotional
Disturbances How many such cases do
we find! We know. and all the evi-
dence seems TO be clear and to the point,
thar through the influence of the imagin-
alton cholera has been induced. Some,
perhaps, may recOllect the remarkable
experience in Austria on certain prison
erS. The Government gave them free
pardon on the condition that they were
To sleep In the beds of cholera patients.
The prisoners agreed to this, and some
were put IL beds a long way from where
there had been cholera patients anG
where no cholera patients had ever slept.
The imagination was so strong that they
had the disease. 1t is also true in epi-
lcpsy and in tetanUs Qoekiaw); cholera
(St. NituS dance is another one of the
spusmodic diseases brought on in this
way ] { such disease can be brought ON
in this way, why not hydrophobial /
am strongly inclined to believe say it
with some reServatiOn-tfIat hydropho
bin very frequently is excited by fright,
and there are numerous instances to
that effect to he found in all medical
wOrks-so many of them that it is hardly
worth while fOrme to tire you with their
recital, but there is one which is very
striking and indisputable, think
Two brothers We're bitten simultano-
aU>ly in France by the same dog. Al
most Immediately one fulfilled his en-
gagemeut to go to Holland, and re-
manned absent ten years. Meantime
that is, two or three months afterward-
the brother who remained in France
died of hydrOphObia. Ten years later,
when the brother returned from HOl-
land. he was told for the first time that
his brother had died of hydrophObia.
That very night symptoms of the disease
appeared in him. and he died in two
days Now, that is very striking case,
and one very difficult to get over, for we
cannot suppose the virus renamed dor
maut IL tlIat mans system for ten years.
1t certainly is very remarkable case,
and the only question is as to whether it
! is true or not. l see no reason to doubt
I because of the analogous instances |
have adduced. And We know, too, that
various diseases Of the nervous sys-
\ TEN which are accompanied with we'll
| marked pathological, morbid, structural
| changes are induced by emotiOn-in-
\ iiamuari1a of the brain for instance.
| All of ,s cam recall instances to our
1 kuowirdu- vhere Inflammation Of the
brain. Gi~..,Jse undoubtedly Of struet-
] uTal charact-r-has been adduced by
emotional disturbances, and we know
! insanity Ia- structural changes in nearly
/ II not all cases.-DT. WiILiam Il. Ham
JEsylf