Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-30
Origin of HydrOphObia.

Does hydrophobia ever originate
spontaneously In animals, and does it
originate so in man? There are nu-
merous examples before us that it does.
Flemming cites a very remarkable ex-
ample of small dog which was being
transported In France on q railroad car.
the locomotive whistle sounded and the
dog became very much excited. No
matter what the owner did, he could
not quiet him, ard finally had to get
out of the car, taking the dog with him.
The dog afterward died with perfectly
scientific hydrophobic symptoms. If
the disease originates spontaneously in
animals, and there seems to be no doubt
of 1T, why can it not originate spontane-
ously in man, under the influence of
emotional disturbances How many
sucE cases do we find We know, and
all the evidence seems to be clear and
to the point, that though the influence
of the imagination cholera has been in
duced. Some, perhaps, may recollect
the remarkable experience in Austria
on certain prisoners. The Government
gave them a free pardon ON the condi-
ton that they we're to sleep in the beds
of cholera patients. The prisoners
agreed to this, and some were pnt in
beds long way from where there had
been cholera patients and where no
cholora patients had ever slept.
The imagination was so strong that
they had the disease. 1t is also true in
epilepsy and in tetanus Qockjaw);
chorea est. Vitus' dance) is another one
of the spasmodic diseases brought on in
this way. If such disease can be broug h
on in that way. why not hydrophobia? I
am strongly inclined to believe-I say
it with some reservations-that hydro
phobia very frequently is excited by
fright, and there are numerous in
stances to that effect to be found in ali
medical works-so many of them that it
is hardly worth while for me to tire
you with their recital, but there is one
which is very striking and indisputable,
l think.
Two brothers we're bitten simultane-
ously in France by the same dog. Al
most Immediately one fulfilled his en-
gagement 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 dis
ease 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 re-
named dormant in that mans for ten
years. 1t certainly is a very remarka-
BILE case, and the only question is as to
whether it is true or not. I see no
reason to doubt because of the anala-
gous instances have adduced. And we
know, too, that various diseases of the
nervous system which are accompanied
with well-marked pathological, morbid,
structural changes are induced by emo
of the brain for in
stance. ALI OF US can recall instances
to our knowledge where Inflammation
of the brain-a disease undoubtedly of
structural character-has been adduced
by emotional disturbances, and we know
insanity has structural changes in near
ly if not all cases.--Dr. William a.
Hammond.