New-York tribune., 1874-07-16
THE HFDROPHOBIA INQUEST

Dn. UAMNovp's CONCLUSIONS FROM M'CORNcKs
CASE CLEARLY SUMMED UP-THE WOUND AND
SOMETHING ELSE THE CAUSE OF DEATH
The Coroner's jury impaneled by Coroner
Kessler to invesug1te the circumstances connected
with tue death of william Mccormick of No. 800 East
Fiftyfrst-s hydrOphoDa. on June %, assembled
in the Coroners Office al p. IN yesterday TINS jury
embraced Dr. Frank II. Hamilton Of the Bellevue Medi-
cal College Dr. c. T. Russell and DE- Allen Mclean
Hamilton, Sanitary Inspectors of the Board OF Health
Dr. Meredith Clymer; Dr. Warren Schoonoyer; Dr. T.
w. Cremin, and DR.. L. ID. Leayltt.
DIR. Frank H. Hamilton took the foreman's
chair and Coroner Kessler called JOnn
Mccormick, who described his brothers Illness
To DR.. Frank HamOn's question whether his
brother had dellrium trcmcns last Summer, the
Wines answered decidedly IN the negative. Michael
Sullivan bartender, of No. $50 East FOrty-seyenhst
testified that he knew Mccormick by sight; about IL
weeks ago he was taken into the saloon at Flysecond
St. and second-aye aud a young man named Kelly
said; q" Billy has been bitten by a dOg;" then Kelly
asked Of the best brandy to take the poison
out OF the wound the wound looked more Ike scratch
of pin than the bite Of dog: Kelly then said tnat 1t
was Masons brndle dog that had bllten Mccormick.
DIR. Alexander nadden OF No. 155 East Fifty lrst-'t
testified that had attended Mccormick, and offered
IN evidence the paper that he had read before the
Neurological Society The question then put by the
Coroner: "Dr. HIdden, would you now swear that 'e
man Mccormick died Of hydrOphObdf T. "1's' an
swered the witness.
DIR. william A. Hammond OF No ls West Fiftyfourth-
ST. clearly and concscy described what he knew ABOUT
the case II do not think, said he. that Mccormick
su.red any pam. He doubtless annoyed, aud suf-
frred great discomfort but actual PAIN j
was convinced that he had haucnations. though he
showed no positive evidence OF such. Hts mental con-
dillon was sach that | should not place any reliance
unon mis- answers. lie might have answered nationally
nine or ten hours before. His mlud was certainly not
capab e OF approaching his condition or danger. Nc
drophoDia. did not see the patient a-alh uniIl Tue
afternoon OF the next day when the p0sinoitem eA,
anina ton made by Drs. Cross aud Lee rsuioISu
tie inpor taut parts OF the BRAN ana MT 'ne NC
top of the spinal cord, and placed mem IN ~
alcohol surrounded by ice. The general appearances of
sections under the microscope inuIclled running 10
fat general WASTING ti,fopnil Oh lhS Jt , -
bodies (puccD OF the cells were broken down ahd
me fourth yentrlce to consist OF oil gObues,
aud broken down bodies OF cells tnueleD Ihc outer
fcortcaD substance is made up OF five lay OF cells
When sections through tins coriical substance we're
viewed with the naked eve, collections rXtraVasa0nS)
of blood could tie brain and with the micro
scope the diseased action was seen extended only
logical investigation developed structural chan
rrs only ia the outer (cOricaD substance Of
the brain, the cencrs at the top OF the spinal cord
In which most of tue ultimate tiamenis ot the cranal
nerves have their origin ono nedulla on'9ngaial ahi
the great nerves lea ing u the tongue ana ock pt O
the throat. the lungs, stomach, and heart Vhe hypo-
gossal and pueumostsriel. ANA in the spinal cord,
down to the origin oi the second par OF nerves eunB
from between the vertehe Of the meek tetVca IAele
CllfJrd Albut OF Leeds, Eugaud, who has Ie-
ported In two cases inc structural cHdh-e'
mtely what he means by granular dtgeIeiaton but
suspect refers To the condition OF things that
found the linders and In the sections OF the
body of the great nerve cener-,be medula oDOngata
think IL thar probable that these morbid changes
began in McCormcks case month before he ded, and
did not his attention until the palas began ON
the Monday before his death. cannot believe that this
that clearly demonstrated Ia MctOrmoHs case
could possibly have been the work OF "a hours diseased
dog. The wound made by the dog anu something else
was the exciting cause uat resulted IN death. what
fIi.ff. X ire upI
than III The inner, or are merely c0naeu 10
the muscle structure of the fourth vcntr.clc"
Here Dr. Hammond produced the plate, which were
reproduced III The TRIBUNE last Tuesday week, ana
demonstrated the structa changes as there described
and as they appeared under the microscope IN the
animation of sections OF IcCjrmieks brain aud spinal
cord.
81 found" continued DR.. Hammond. "collections OF
blood OF the size OF lar pm lnat had ted FOR some
pusclcs very interesting | have often found them
iu the blood OF epnepues. Alcohol know, might pro-
For the alcohol had caused this the appear
would Aave been uniform Throughout; / have
aud back part Of the throat sO-phaTyngcaD In
spinal diseases these changes might be present
1nt nave never seen then. Ihss structural cnanges
have certainly been formed Ia this case and with Dr.
clifford Allburs two similar cases We have thee
uudOubted subjects which make u strong
foundation 10 begin upon. Ihe fact that DR.. 1uOt has
lately found similar changes after death by hydro
pLoba strengihens my opinion and belief very miteri
ally that this may be the true and constant diseased
action In hydrophObia. Different durations and der
ent stages OF diseases wo"i cause different structural
changes 10 be dsCOVeied eacn peculiar To It's state.
disease dt-ccnlS tue cord, evidences VIII be
found lower down In instances where the disease
tiuucs for u longer period.
Dr. Daniel +. Lcavtt corroborated Dr. Hadiens tes-
timony. aud explained about OF atropa aud
morpha, saying that only such dose had been gwen -
had been deemed lUsttabe in such "a extreme cas-.
William G. Mason William M,sOn MS ather and lher
hired boy Timothy Conkng. testified about the brndle
dog which Kelly so positively swears bit Mccormick
They agree In their testimony about the general habit,
OF the dOg. but the testimony OF The BOY particular
was dalueifcally opposed To what lie told Dr. Frank
Hamilton, DIR. Cross, ana Detective MCtiowau. When
asked whether he told tue truth then now he
answered "uOw."
This testimony. though nothing can be proved posi.
tveiy added 10 belief aud there Il now no
doubt IN the minds Of Drs Cross, Hamilton Hammond
aud McGOwan mat Mason's brinde dog bit Mccormick
When McCormick himself said bakers dog bit hun he
not iu condition 10 S fact search for such
bakers dog though thorough. has been utterly frut-
esa aud II ID generally believed that Mccormick hin-
sell referred 10 MasOns dog which IA dark briude
and lives around the corner The jury adjourned 10
meet AT Dr. Frank ii. Hamon's. No 3 West Thfty.
seCouds, at Friday next. when their verdict
which Is 10 De IA long one. Is 10 De given.
ACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES.
The total number OF dogs received aud killed at the
pound about 1,4o0 The Health Commissioners Issued
yesterday printed circulars series OF rules ,or the
prevention OF hydrOphobia, which we're submitted by
Dr. John C. Dalton 10 the Board OF Health. on June SO
Tue following are the more important rules
IT, IN sdfuon 10 iny al Of tie foregoing symptoms etneA rest
sne.s ani dersved ,ppete the dog has deon " e ,e,
apeafag Imaginary dshs or sounds, tins 10 p
through osed doe e.tels as the there OF
ssafcthg for .hlg WLes s there 1. great prsy
NAT b. - Of .oons LJaIoPsOt lie shOuh
Ia s. b. stns Who's. eoadoo h Suspicion. The
s-saTs ssf s treatment - 10 oaGsdI The yosnI
ss - go Hiis oonmsty luasr esa.iieF
cute a. S>s a. u.sl - bss oosise With ever part of
H ". '...." 49, ss ns'ssstg e.st.nsea
DJgs sppSst9 " - tssq we're shot by policemen yes
telday a. ,hs ipb.lb1 IiAs.. Al No 81 south Fifth
ave, at EJDsTptt AhG Water sts.. al No. ITO New
4U al aI.l-