The Indiana State sentinel., 1874-06-30
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, TUESDAY, JUNE 1874

cold.p The doctor thought best to acquiesce
in the patients view, and to treat the matter
as being unconnected with any notion Of
canine origin He asked the sufferer to
drink glass of water. This being brought,
( DIR. Butler seized it with both hands and put
/ forth muscular six foot mans full strength
| in the desperate endeavor to please his old
/ friend, the physician, by giving him this
simple proof of the absence of hydrophobia,
\ in vain. No effort was able to carry one
drop of the crystal liquid to his stomach.
The attempt caused a violent paroxysm of
the suffoeating sensation, and evidently
caused the patient dire distress. Affecting
to think nothing of it, DIR. Lorette, whose
experience had shown him the same un-
mistakable symptoms before. treated it as OF
no consequence, endeavoring to soothe
THE DOOMED NAN.
He wrote a prescription, directing its ad-
ministration as soon as possible. and assur-
| ing the stricken dog fancier that he hoped to
see him better at his next call, left the room.
Taking occasion to see Mrs Butler, he told
her at once to make the requisite ARA nge-
ments, for her husband's s dreadful doom was
| Imminent and beyond the power of medical
skill to turn aside or postpone. From that
hour till Tuesday night all that could be
done was essayed to counteract that grasp of
the slayer which aG frequent intervals tor
mented that stalwart man with the sensa-
ton of suffOcation, as though hand were
tightly griped about his throat, so as to to-
tally preclude inhalation. At 9 o'clock
Tuesday evening the total disbeliever in
hydrophobia died from the bite of a rabid
dog, after tortures the most poignant of
which human nature is susceptible. The
following extracts are made from the
letter of DR.. Butler above referred,
to: AS there exists in the public mind much
OF doubt, fear and misapprehension with re-
gard to the causes, symptoms, preventives
and cures of the sO-called fearful maladay,
i hw~ l.s.Ir,
you kind permission TO tender a few re-
marks on the subject for the benefit of tine
community. These / will condense into
four heads-causes, symptoms, antidotes
and cures.
First-The causes are almost as various
| in the "genus caniS' as in the "genus
| homo" Among these 1 would enumerate
indigestion, internal distractions exposure
to the sun and to the intense heat of fire,
foul meat or undigested matter purifying
in the stomach; mats of hair, ETC., blocking
| the passage to the main canal; splinters of
| bone sticking in the throat, stomach or in
! testines; lack of water, sudden frights, and,
| perhaps, the most fearful of all, the rabies,
engendered by the worry and excitement,
| overstraining and exhaustion of natural
passion, rampant and raving, yet unap-
peased. Numerous Instances OF this have
come under my notice, where an over-ex-
cited quadruped distressed in nerve, body
and bone, then peted, driven and conse-
quently half craZed, has become a prey to
the cadgel, the brickbat or the gun; while
the poor brute only required rest, shade,
peace and pail OF water.
Second-Symptoms. The symptoms OF
so-caiied madness are not always 81 nilar.
Sometimes sullenness of movement, wild
wandering of the eye, disOrdered appetite,
devouring Oftextile fabrics, gnawing of the
chain. Dread of water have never noticed
rather the reverse Lockjaw Is not uncom-
| 1oiv I'M tiolN1 hnn II
sequent ferocity. Continued costiveness
tends to disorder the whole nervous fabric.
Distemper often has the same effect for a
season.
Third-The Antidote. Feed the dog mod
erately on wholesome food. Give sufficient
exercise. Keep him away from the fire and
out OF the street alone. lest the disease be
increased by irritation among other dogs
Let HIM have an abundant supply of fresh
water. and do not place him where he cannot
find shade.
Fourth-The Cure. There are numerous
grades of flightheadedness in the canine spe.
cies, from the sight tit to the craving ma.
Mac" The best remedy is to produce as
far as possible a thorough and sudden
change in the system. by cleansing the
stomach by vOmitives and the bowels wit b
purgatives. In all cases have found
COMMON TABLE SALT
the most speedy and effective, with which
his mouth should be filled. A second dose
is seldom necessary to purify the stomach
Saturating the whole body with salt, by
keeping the animal wholly immersed in 8
full saltwater solution until he is almost be-
u yond recovery, then terminating by rubbing
will seldom fail to produce the desired con
valescence. With regard to persons bitten
an immediate application of wet salt (aftel
sucking out the wound thoroughly and ap
plying caustic, if at hand, or cutting out the
part if advisable, keeping the bite thoroughly
saturated for twenty-four hours, 1 consider
an excellent remedy. Or, if there were cause
enough TO warrant it, the patient might bt
immersed in salt water till reaction could
be produced i'm the system by restoration
after sousipg bordering on drowning itself
believe this operation might be effectua
where the malady had fully declared itself
as by this treatment have been eminently
successful in curing demented animals them.
selves. Above al, the person bitten should as
much as possible, shake off all foolish excite.
ment, and should be discouraged by Others
to run into any nonsensical fear. Forum
ate indeed, it is that cases of real hydrOpho
bia are so few and tar between. The record
tells us there was not a single case in Lon
don last year. Many I have cured from the
, madness of sunstrokes by shade, retirement
and cold water. Yet these have nothing tC
do with hydrophobia, as generally under
: stood; but, as | before intlmated, 1.-The anti
dote is better than the cure" Therefore th,
best safeguard with suspicious dogs is
strong chain, staple and collar until al
doubts are set at rest. l have been bittel
often enough by hounds with "fghty imagin
, ations," without the least fear or dangerou
result. 1 have had III my possession ove
! 10000 dogs, of all breeds, sizes and genera
tions, yet have had but one case of unmis
taxable hydrophobia which was brought Il
me for treatment. AS he was a powerful
Q brute had him well secured las / wish al
r.0t, h
He chopped down half a pail of water.
made no attempt to cure hin, but carefull
8 watched his gnawings and rawlings till pei
s fectly enervated and PROSTATE from shee
: exhaustion, his pulse gradually grew fainte
: and weaker till it ceased to beat.
!. GRANTS WORST
THE PRESIDENT NAMES BOSS SHEPHERD FO