New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-05
A BRITISH BRIG WRECKED.
THE DREAD or HYDROPHOBI1.

A
DROPHOBIC FRIGHT-HIs TERRIBLE SUFFERING
But SUBSEQUENT PARTIAL RECOVERY.
Thomas Barrett patrolman OF the sixth
Precinct residing at no. 81 Madson-st, while on his
most in Pearlst on the night OF July 10, attempted TO
separate two dogs that fgntng when one OF Them
suddenly hun By the left hand aud liberated 1t
severely Barrett dubbed the dogs away and continued
his tour Of duty The wound was bleeding but he paid
little attention TO On the 12th, he reported sick at
the stationhonse exhibiting considerable nervousness
The excitement relative the Mccormack hydrophoba
case was very general at that time, and had evidently
frightened Barrett He showed his hand, winch was now
much swollen. TO the sergeant at the desk and told now
lac had received the wound, whereupon the sergeant
said loosely "Why Barrett you are not getting afraid
Of hydrophobial 2" Barrett made some unintclligibe
reply, and bis vsby increased The SER
ceant sent him to Dr. S. g. Cook, the Precinct Sur
geon, for treatment, and he went off Dr..
Cook cauterzed the wound and applied various
simple dressings. Barrett remained on the sck-hst six
days and a half not combining himself closely at home,
but visiting his usual haunts frequently. Dr. Cook saw
him each day. and applied simple dressings to the
wound several times. Barrett however, during this in
terval, exhibited considerable nervousness and fright
and his friends rallied him considerably the prospect
Of his having hydrOphoba. On july 49, he reported for
duty, Announcing that his hand had completely healed
On July %, DR.. Cook saw him his beat, and hailed
him. He then said that his hand was quite well, but
that he felt slight pain in his wrist. DR.. Cook exam
ined the hand. and that the wounds had closed
there remaining only the slightest Of the dogs
on both sides OF the ball of the thumb. Since then DR..
Cook had heard Of the case, and Barrett conn
ued regularly Oh duty.
Yesterday morning, however. Barrett exhibited sucn
symptoms of hydrophOOa, hydrophObic fright that
his brother residing In the same house. sent 10 the Sixth
Precinct for ambulance TO convey him to the Park
Hospital. He Rroaned and howled like n dog, and
snapped sptefuy with his teeth his paroxysms becom
ing so terrible at times that he had to be kept quiet
force On his arrival at the hospital he at once put
| in straightjacket. He Is nearly six feet tall
broad shoudercd, largebOned and muscular, weighing
probably $50 pounds and the attendants at the hospital
were unwilling to run the risk OF struggle with him
unbound Hypodermic injections OF morphine were adj
ministered. The violent symptoms were much more
marked when strangers were about. When alone with
| his friends he quiet the time and talked
| nationally. He had no difficulty in swallowing water
| but snapped at spoon glass when they were
presented TO his lips He did froth from the month
aud did not think, himself, that he had hydrophoba
The hypodermic injections given every hour and
half or two hours Dr. Hull, the physician ia charge,
stated that injection OF hydrate OF choral would be
made late In the afternoon but before this was done
Police Surgeon Cook OF the Sixth Precinct, called for
the sick man, and took charge Of his treatment Dr.
Cook brought with him DR.. Hammond. and was Joined
asoin consultation over the case by Dr. j. H. Wood
Dr Fluhrer. They found the one symptom. which DIR.
Cook considers the only Infabe proof of the presence
OF hydrOphOba prOperthe muscular inability swal-
low water-to be entirely absent In the case and all
agreed that was very doubtful case. Ten drops Of
morphine were administered, and they quoted the
patient considerably The consulting physicians agreed
that If the developed into uDdOubted hydrOphobia
10 subject the patient 10 a Turkish bath at tenn
perature OF 1902 and Keep him in that TEN
perature until he died cured. Early
In the afternoon however Barrett improved so rap
idly, at his and his we's urgent request, he was
taken home in ambulance, where Dr. Cook
inued 20 attend him Az home yesterday afternoon he
renamed stihg IN an arm chair moaning. and glaring
e1Gitedly at all who approached him. The straight
JACKET was Kept on, and two men guarded him. His
family consisting OF his wife and two children did not
dare TO remain alone with him
Dr Hull Assistant Surgeon OF the Park HOSPITAL san
that, In MS Judgment the was not suffering from
true hydr0phOpa but from hysera, brought on prob
ably by fear. He could tell whether iquor had mad
anything to do with IL or not He Thought, however.
that he could distinguish the odor alcohol in the sick
mans breath. lie had doubt that he would recover
Officer Barretts friends the other hand say that
Precinct Station-house said yesterday that he knew
positively that Barrett had not been drinking since he
was bitten. His record was aSyery good one on the
force. He appointed on Sept. o. 1870. and Is 81
years OF age