The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-06-25
THE SENSATION OF HYDRoPHoBIA.

1 3 . Is -
A victim. details his suffering in the
Courier des EtGts UIlis as follows:
1 was surprised to see appear, from
q black cabinet, people who spoke to
me then enormously long rats ran
along the furtiture, always by the
side. The illusion was such that at
first often changed my position TO
convince myself whether it was an il
lusion or reality. Afterward falling
stars appeared at moment when 1
least expected them, always from the
internal te the external angle of the
eye, which forced me instinctively to
turn my head. Simultaneously was
seized with trembling of the skin and
feeling of unspeakable horror. In the
place of darkness, or during the night,
my room appeared illuminated as by
a flash of lightning. At last, seeing
that Aothing would arrest this mystsr-
iouS agent, j had recourse to the datu-
ra stramonium OF thorRapple of Peru.
A catholic missionary had Informed
me of its wonderful efficacy. fifteen
years ago. / took strong dose of it,
four or five leaves, and commenced to
write, althogh with some difficulty,
Half an hOnr after the remedy had
taken effect, when suddenly q strong
electric conYalsion, fireworks, or rath-
er Ikea puff of steam. ran through all
my limbs, from head to foot, produc-..
ing in the entire surface of the shin a
general trembling and sensation of
heat, accompanied by disposition to
fly and an indefnable feeling of terror.
It seemed tome had fireworks in my
eyes. / rebonnded as if impelled by a
spring. 1t seems t0ime1 was engag-
ed in a deadly combat between the
vital and morbid principles, the latter
of which endeavored to impose itself
tyrannicallY, like dominating power,
against which all the active forces re-
acted with a superhuman energy. At
the came moment ] became delirious,
aud lost all consciousness. The pa
tienf retains in the 6elirium the domi-
nant idea of restraining himself, and
of endeavoring to repossess his facul-
ties. Nevertheless, in this state the
conVulsions became more frequent.
They are always accompanied with
the same sentiment of fear, and the
necessity of reaction and flight. The
muscular force is prodigiously increas-
ed he is without fatigue the weight
of the body is no impediment to the
limbs it seems only necessary to make
the attempt to skim oyer the earth, as |
in certain dreams. The contraction !
of the muscles of the legs causes q sud- |
den fall, when he becomes perfectly |
rigid. He realizes he has fallen when |
he is restored to consciousness by the
shock of the fall, and he rises quickly. |
The nervous excitement is such that |
he is very nearly insensible to pain. |
The figures of the most familiar per-
sons appear furious, threatening, and |
provoking and contrary to the gener-
al sentiment of terror which one feels
from concussions, one is in
trepid and ready to brave all exterior
dangers. Tho paroxysms commenced |
at :30in the afternoon. AT 10 o'clock /
in the evening the remedy began to
take effect, and the next day only a !
great prostration was felt. The inya-
lid attributed all the phenomena of
the delifium to the gas produced in t
organic Tissues by the infiHence of the
virus.