American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-11
Terrible Death from HydrophObia.

| THOSE who have doubted the existence
of hydrophObia were taken aback yester
| day by the death of William Mccormick, O1
| No. 300 East Fifty first street, whose case
| exhibited all the most pronounced symp
toms of that disease. A little over d
butcher, and also follows the express
business, was bitten by small dog. The
wound was upon the hand, and so slight
that it seemed to be only a scratch, and
of no importance whatever. His wife
and family expressed great anxiety on
account of the stir about mad dogs: but
he laughed at their fears, assuring them
that the dog was not mad and that there
could be no danger. The dog was taken
to the pound and killed, so that there has
been no chance to prove whether he had
rabies or not.
On Monday Mr.. Mccormick began to
experience pains in his neck and about
his shoulders He believed that he had
rheumatism and again laughed at the
fears of his wife and family. He con-
tinued to grow worse and applied lini-
consult physician and continued about
his business as usual.
On Wednesday at ten, Mr.. Mccormick
complained of feeling a peculiar creep
ing sensation coming up his back and
spreading over his shoulders and the
back of his neck. He told his wife that
he felt faint. and she brought him glass
of water. He took the glass in his hand
and placed it to his lips to drink. His
teeth closed upon the edge of the glass,
his lips became purple, and his face pre-
asphyxiated by choking. The muscles
about his neck were contract
ed, and he caught his breath
rapidly, and at intervals could not breathe
at all DR. Heddon was sent for and he
reached the house as the spasm was pass
ing off The physician examined the pa
tient carefully, and pronounced the case
one of true hydrophobia. He prescribed
anodynes and went out, promising to call
again ut ten o'clock.
Dr. Heddon called upon DIR. W. E.
Leavitt, and requested him to call with
him upon Mr. Mccormick. At ten, as
agreed upon, they met at McCOrmick's
house and went to the patients room
without hesitation
At 3:15 yesterday morning the convul-
sions were so terrible that the nurses
could not control the patient. He would
straighten himself out and then spring
with his might and throw himself from
the bed. His jaws snapped together and
frOth ran from his mouth in streams.
Precipitation rolled from all parts of his
body, wetting through his shirt and the
bedding. His face was livid and from
time to time his throat seemed to con-
tract until the large muscles stood out in
cords. His agony was intense, and even
chloroform could not be given to quiet
the commissions. At length a patrolman
was called in and sent to the Fifty-ninth
street police station for help and
strait,jacket Sergt. Tanning sent
Roundsman West with the strait jacket
and to render such assistance as might
be necessary. With their united strength
the strait,jacket was applied, and then
more control could be exercised over the
pat lent.
During the afternoon Mr.. Mccormick
was constantly in state of spasm. So
rapidly did they follow one another that
the commissions seemed almost cOntin-
uous. About O'Clock signs of weakness
were shown for the first time, and it be-
came evident that a change was near. A
little chlOrofOrm was administered, and
afterward the patient was a little easier,
and tried to speak Before his sentence
could be finished another spasm came on,
more terrible than any. His back was
bent like a bow, and the entire weight of
the body rested upon the head and heels.
His jaws crashed together, and once his
teeth went through his tongue, causing it
to bleed profusely. The blood and froth
ran from his mouth, Spatterlng over MS
face and the bed-clOthes. Then giving a
tremendous struggle, almost bursting the
bonds of the strait jacket, he threw
himself over upon his side. His jaws
were clenched SO tightly that they
cracked in the terrible strain. The agony
was intense. In few moments, just as
the clock was striking five, an ashen hue
began to spread over his face. The mus
cular contraction relaxed. The jaw
dropped, and Mr.. McCormick's terrible
suffering was over. Death was welcome,
for no person could have suffered as he
did. He was evidently conscious all
through the terrible struggle, as was
shown by his attempt to speak just before
his death. The strait!acket was re-
moved, and then the rigor morris began
to set in. No evidence could be gained
to the efficacy of any kind of treat
ment, the rapid progress of the disease
to IA fatal termination making every effort
futile beyond mans control