Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-07
ABOrr uyDR0PHOaxl
HIS History. Nasure aud Treatment =
ntess OF DIR. Cox, OF the Board O.

reporter of The STAR inter viewed DR.. Cox,
of the Board of Health, this morning upon the
prevailing topic of hydroPhobis, with the fol
lowing results:
ReIOrter.-Is there not, Doctor, much that 1:
peculiar in regard 70 the true history, nature
and treatment OF hydIopsohia?
DR.. Colt is certainly one OF the most re-
InaTsasle, least understood and most intr bic
or human msladies. Age, sex, temperament
condition of life, habit of body afford no ex-
emption from its ravages. The disease IL alike
common to all localities, climates and seasons
1t is asserted, however, that canine madness /:
unknown In Syria and Egypt. Certain ii /:
that 10 allusion whatever, Is made to this af.
lection IN the Bible, although dogs from the
earnest ages have been very abundant in east
ern countries. II is singular that while Hip.
pOcTates does not refer 70 hyorophobia, except
as symptom OF other disorders, his conte m
affection, generated by the bite of a rsbid an
imal. A hundred years later, Aristotle, al
though admitting madness to be commune ated
from one animal TO another, utterly denies It's
existence in the human subject. Andreas, how
ever, who fourished two centuries before
Christ, and Apollodoras, at a later period, wrote
OF the disease as communicable to man. A halt
century after AsclepIades treated hydrophO-
bis quite at length referring its seat to the mem
branes of the brain, Aurelian1s to the osopha-
gus, and ArtOrius, the friend and physician OF
Augustus, to the stomach, which theory had
been previously promulgated by Artemidorus.
The ancient Greeks characterized canine mad
ness b. the expression LuSsG Or LUttI, and the
works of Homer aud other writers of that Pc
Rod abound in illusions to this disorder. From
this word comes LyssOpbO5iG, lately revived in
New York 10 represent the dread OF ma iness
as contranistinguished from hydrophobia, the
disease itself.
RepCrter.-Do you believe in this m1lady be-
ing produced, as in the Entwisle case, by fear
alOi.e?
Doctor CT do not. Fear and i'm lginatlou
are, OF course, powerful predisposing causes OF
disease, and may contribute 10 the develop
ment OF train OF symptoms Stimulating hydro
phobia, but can never produce the genuine at
lection.
Reporter.-what dc you think of the cases re-
ported in New York, and the conclusions
reached by medical men and scientists in re-
gsrl to the nature OF the disease?
Doctor C-While commencing and appreciat-
ing the Jealous labors of DIR. Hammond and his
coadjutcrs, do not place as exalted an esti-
mate as do others upon the results Of the invss-
ugatioD In the first place, l have never be-
Eeved, and do not now believe, that McCor-
mick died OF hydrophobia- He had the loo ked-
jaw, tonic spasms Of the muscles affecting the
throat, spine, thorax, diaphragm, and limbs,
with strongly marked opisthotonos, character
istic OF tetanus. At least these were included
in the description L saw. Now, such morbid
tinguish a case Of hydrophobIa, in which the
spssms are cIonic (Of short duration), followed
by complete relaxation. Thirst, cultural OBJ
struction, mental alteration, Sc, common to
hydTophobis, are not present in tetanus. The
diseases are, In fact, entirely distinct and can
not be confounded by any careful diagnosti-
clan. The result ccrroborstes my conclusion,
tor the dog that bit Mccormick has been proved
TO be still alive, in God health, and unaffected
by solitary trace OF rabies!
ReTorter.-But does not DIR. Hammond, with
a knowledge OF this fact, still insist that Nc
Cormick died Of by drophobia?
Doctor CT have seen 1t stated that it is not
essential to the development of hydrophobia
that the dog biting the victim should be mad,
a theory unsustained by facts, wholly untena-
bic, and dangerous, leading, as it does, to care
lessness or neglect IN the adoption of the pre-
venti7e measures Of excisiOn and cauteriza-
ton.
RepOrter.-What is your opinion of the new
views announced by DIR. Hammond and his col
leagues, based upon the examination Of Nc
COrmick's body?
Doctor C.-They do not impress me as a very
startling advance beyond what is already
known. Autopses Of hydrophObic subjects
have been not unfrequent; but these have thus
Tar failed To reveal any distinct morbid lesion.
Evidences of brain and meningeal congestion
have been apparent, as in asphyXia and kindred
maladies, but no abnormal changes were die
coyerable. This remark applies as well to the
medulla oblongata, spinal cord, and its mem
bTGnes. DIR. HammOnds autopsy revealed spots
indicating blood extravasation in the medulls,
especially marked at the origin Of the spinal
accessory nerves. 1t is no new theory that, ar
ter the period of topical incubation, the hydro.
phobie poison seems to be expended upon the
medulla oblongata and the eighth pair of nerves
DIR. Cunningham, of the British army, in his
published autOpsies, mentions similar appear
snces Of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord
red spot was discovered in the POns Varolii
and on the inferior surface of the medulla OBJ
longata were found evidences of congestion,
and OF thlckeDing, and membranous adhesion,
but neither in the substance of the medulla nor
of the nerves were traceable any abnormal
changes whatever.
RePOTter.-Do you therefore conclude that no
mortid change exists in these parts?
Doctor C.-Certainly not. Leading patholo-
gists have long believed In the existence of
some lesion of the medulla, particularly az the
point Of origin with the eth, Sth and 9th pair of
nerves, but thus far it has eluded our means of
detection. While not able to discover any nov
city or remarkable progress In the late investi-
cations, L will not disguise nay pleasure at the
earnest zeal exhibited by the gentlemen en-
gagged in them. In the hands of so eminent and
microscope and specific gravity test will yet be
made to contribute valuable results to science,
and possibly to the treatment of this hitherto
uhmsnagea9Ie disease. Dr: Copeland, with
disease 10 be purely nervous, and not the result
OF capillary or venous absorption, and that the
morbid changes, If any, will be found in the
central nervous structures alluded to.
RepOrter.-Are you In favor of taking meas
ures TO prevent hydrophobia after exposure to
the bite OF rabid animal?
treated In former years number OF
persons bitten by mad dogs, and have no
doubt prevented hydrophobia in not a few
instances by early ana free escision and
caustic, after excision, prefer the hydrate of
potasss, succeeded by poultioes to promote
abundant suppur ration. Some use Tuning nitric
acid, and still others (as Youatt) nitrate or
silver. The kind OF caustic Is not so important
as the promptness of its application.
RepOrter.-Have you seen any account of the
proceedings Of the Neurological Society last
night in New York, and what do you think of
them?
Doctor C.-From the meagre reports have
seen Of the discussions, they do not seem to me
10 be very remarkable. The suggestions OF
excision and cauterization Of the injured parts,
electro galvanism and hypodermic injections of
morphia as prophylactlcs, are not new. The
proposition to blunt the incisor teeth of all dogs
Is certainly novel, and besides being a cruel
proceeding, promises no important result. The
dog Is q carniverous animal, and the incisors
are essential to the prehension and appropria-
zion OF its food. 1t would, therefore, be inhuman
to submit the dog to the process proposed, with
out any counterbalancing good, since 1t would
not prevent the injury inflicted by the rabid
animal.
THE FREEDMEN's SAVING AND Trust CON-
PASY.-The board of trustees of the Freed
mems bank held a meeting this morning at III
O'Clock, which lasted till half past this after
noon, at which were present all the commits
sioneTs appointed TO wind up the affairs of the
bank, also, Mr.. Smith, cashier OF the Memphis
branch, Mr.. Smythe, cashier of the Wilmington,
Y, branch, and Mr.. Whipper, cashier OF the
Philadelphia branch.
The meeting was a very harmonious one, and