Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-02
HydrOphobia Again.

The Investigation OF the mystery of hydro
phObis in New York has developed the startling
facts that the fearful malsdy is a disease Of the
brain and nerve centers and not Of the blood,
and that 1t may be communicated to a human
being by the bite of a healthy dog. This fully
justifes every word of warning ever spoken or
written on the subject. In the case of William
Mccormick, the one investigated by DR.. Ham
mond, and other well known medical men OF
New York, All agreed that IL was a case Of
genuine hydrOphObis, and it has since been
asceItaiEed that the dog, which bis him, was
and is perfectly healthy. TIE Pcst-mOrtem eN-
animation OF Mccormick clearly showed that
the disease is nervous malady, and not = blood
poison. IL has, according 70 Dr.. Hammond, its
origin in the medUlls OblOngata- Says the
report: ''Dr. Hammond traced the poison from
the point of ingTess into the system 20 the seat
of incubatiOn-the medulla OolOngaSa. There
the diseased action settled about tie great
nerves that control the actions, AM had also
extended 10 the hemispheTes OF the brain"
This was shown by the peculiar attention that
Mccormick began TO pay TO the subject. The
poison that was working in the great nerve CEN
tiers, said DT. Hammond, begaA to influence his
thoughts, and even bis dreams. AS men almost
always do In brain affections, he strove to con-
ceal the anxiety which was depicted in his face.
When his friends and family asked HIM what
stefan. he laughed at them and said: That dog
is net mad" Now as to the magination theory.
DIR. Gross, one Of the jury in the Mccormick
Investigation, told the following facts of a case
referred to by DIR. HammoDd:-A child three
years OF age was leading a dog by a string
through the house. The string caught and the
child fell over IL. The dog was provoked and
bit the child. Though this dog showed no
symptom of rabies, IL was killed at once and no
observations could be made. Stin il was not
believed that the animal WAS rsbid. Mr. But
Ter, who died OF hydrOphObis, continued DIR.
Gross, believed that dog that was not rabid
could cause hydrophobia when in a state
of excitement. This statement he pub
lshed as a result OF bis observations
Another interesting point in a scientific light
was brought forward by DIR. Gross. He said
that many physicians and scientists had said
that true bydrOphObla was only communicated
by dog having true rabies, or did not exist
as separate disease. They contend that the
fears Of "A person bitten are so worked upon "a
10 cause his disease. This, continues Dr. Cross
can be dispToyed by the case of this child that
died Bitten by dog supposed 70 bs healthy,
the child only years old could not imagine the
disease or know What fear OF such death was
Yet tie Child began to dream OF dogs, and told
d. Cook the most singular stories aoOu. dos
-1.- ~ vi III Els DIAM.
Tins child afJerw2rd died OF Ils hydroDhobIa
and evinceC that alarm that : ALWAYS A prs-
nOnItoEy symptom, just the came as McCor-
mick and others had done. But the child had
no foundation for such thou Ets III any knoWl-
edge u tie horrors OF death 5y hydTopho5ia.
Or. Cross, a. one OF the jurymtn IN tue Nc
CorniCk case, will continue bis Investigations
and viii give the results o. Lis observations
prepared with tie greatest care. He believes
thar 10 legislation can be too stringent on the
dog question. The public danger is truly
great. In the country, upon an ISOLATED farm,
a dog may be OF some usefulness, but in cities,
where dogs can De only nuisance aud a terror
to every one, DR.. Cross believes that they should
all be destroyed. This opinion l. shared by
DIS. Hamilton, Meredith Clymer, Hammond,
ard many other distinguished physicians. IL
such terrible results have followed . dogs bite
IN one instance only, they sag, IL is ample rea-
son for Kidding the cities OF them all. This
ought to be done at once and thoroughly, and
uutil then no one il safe in the public streets.
The imaginary hydrophObia. Of which they
nave had case in New York, is so different
from the real disease that another name, .Iys
sophobia," is used to designate IL. The syrnp-
toms are not nearly 50 terrible As those OF the
true hycIOphCbia.