The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-23

LcOub buIBcOu, LIZ. nHmmO0Q SAYS III
was noticeable that while the larynx
and pharynx were greatly swollen ex-
ternally they were perfectly healthy in
side, the first spasm or paroxysm in the
muscles of the throat was induced by
an effort on the part of the sufferer to
drink water. The spots of extravasated
blood on the medulla oblongata were dis
tinctly perceptible to the naked eye.
The spinal access ory nerves were clear
ly the seat of the disease, and it was
curious to watch the stealthy encroach-
ments of the poison upon the nervous
system of the patient. The wound was
on the first knuckle of the right hand,
and nearly two months elapsed before
any very marked effects were expert
enced. AS the poison passed into the
medulla oblongata, and extended itself
to the larger nerves and the hemispheres
OF the brain, its progress was attended
with much mental anxiety to the pa
tient he began to brood over the dan
ger, and his thoughts were constantly
occupied with the one absorbing sub
Ject of hydrophobia. Even when he
was asleep his mind dwelt upon his
peril. This was merely the incipient
stage of the disease, but from this
point 1t spread through the system
with alarming rapidity, and soon
reached the origin of the spinal access
sorry nerves and pneumagastric nerves,
producing the paroxysms which con-
tinued almost without intermission un-
til death.
DR.. Hammond thinks that medical
knowledge of hydrophobia is still in it's
infancy, One case, he says, can add
but little to what is already known, but
from the satisfactory result of the
series of experiments recently made,
confirming, as they have done, the
theories of eminent medical authorities,
it is to be hoped no opportunity will be
lost hereafter to add to the knowledge
already gained. He says it is not neces-
sary for o dog to be mad in order that
its bite should result in hydrophobia.
Any dog biting while in anger and ex-
citement may inoculate the person bit
ten.
He believed that the dog which bit
McCormlck was not mad. 1t was
medium sized bG}l terrier. DR.. Ham,
mond examined the animal and could
not detect any positive indications of
madness. It did, indeed, act somewhat
strangely, standing for long time over
hole, seemingly watching for rat,
and occasionally swapping at imaginary
flies in the air, but it seemed healthy
and by no means forocious. At the
ime it bit Mccormick it was fright IN
ed, as Mccormick, who was sitting with
a friend on a railing at Fifty-second
street and Second avenue, Jumped
down suddenly and landed almost on
the dogs back. The bite was yery
slight indeed, and hardly any blood
flowed from it. The animal, however,
was of uncertain temper, and had bit
ten several other peasons in moments
OF fright or excitement, but no bad re-
suits had followed. One point, how
ever, DIR. Hammond views as clearly
established by Mccormick s death, that
a man may be inoculated with the virus
productive of hydrophobia from the
bite OF dog not itself suffering from
the disease. This was also the theory
of Mr.. Butler, the distinguished dog
fancier, who died of hydrophobia some
weeks ago in Brooklyn.
Mr.. George Wagner, the park off
Ger who was bitten in Prospect Park
three weeks ago by rabid Newfound-
land dog, is still under the care of DR..
Shepard of Brooklyn. The doctor is
trying the experiment of curing hydro.
phobia by giving his patient frequent
Turkish baths. Wagner has taken be-
tween twenty and thirty baths, many of
them twice a day. He spends q half
hour in room heated up to $50 deg.
Fahrenheit, is showered with cold
water, and then rubbed down and put
in the hot room again. The bite in his
hand has healed up, and with the ex-
ceptlon of a wasting away, the sweats
make the doctor feel that the patient is
in good trim. DR.. Shepard will con
tinue the baths about six weeks longer,
but he believes that the virus will dis
appear from Waegner's blood in q
shorter time. The doctor has offered
to cure by the baths all who are bitten
in Brooklyn, and very many who have
been bitten by dogs who were not rabid
have applied to him.
DR.. Rosenfeld, of Orange, N. j., tells
of sailor who had put into his mouth
a piece of rope that dog had gnawed,
and was soon afterward seized with
spasms. He died few days later. The
doctor also knew woman who, having
had her dress torn by dog, put the
torn piece into her mouth to rip it out
while repairing the dress. She soon
afterward manifested symptoms of hy-
drophobia, and after some days of ter
rible suffering died in aponv