The Indiana State sentinel., 1874-06-30
THE CANINE CURSE
HYDROPHOBIA.


THE DEATH OF DIR. FRANCIS BUTLER OF RY-
DROPHoBIA-HIs THEORY AND ITS REFUTA-
T0N-THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, ANTID0TES
AND CURES FOR THE DISEASE.
The New York Herald of the 10Th inst.
gives the following account of the death of
DIR. Butler, a celebrated dog-fancier of that
city: About five years ago this community
was violently excited about mad dogs and
our danger from their presence. a Mr..
Ludlam had perished under this dreaded
disease. Many men of influence gave the
community their views the subject.
Among others, Professor Butler wrote the
Herald letter, which is reprinted herewith.
1t will be seen that on the 21st of February,
1863, DIR. Butler, who had had more expert
ence of dogs and tneir ailments than any
other man among us, held firmly TO the be-
lief that persons who go into spasms of
terror at sight of water do so, not from an
inoculated disease by the tooth of a rabid
member of the canine race, but from the
workings of fear, imagining poison in the
veins which has no existence in fact. He
adduces cases of persons who have taken
hydrophobia from dogs whose subsequent
health proved them sound at the time of the
supposed inocculation with Virus. More
over. he believed that persons even il
actually afflicted with the malady, which he
considered exceedingly rare, if it existed at
all, could be certainly cured by simple appli-
cations of caustlc and salt bathing. He
esteemed it his duty TO disabuse the public
of the hideous prejudice which it held against
poor brutes made frantic by the kicks and
contumely of a cruel world, and hunted
through the hot streets with yells and
stones till they fell exhausted in some shell
tering retreat, ready to die from fear and ex-
cessiye effort. "Give the poor whelp rest"
says this friendly writer, "he wants but
good food, shelter and plenty OF water to be
trusty companion and valued friend OF
man." To DIR. Buffers care the lover of
dogs committed their pets when they showed
signs of illness. In this way he received a
SpitZ six weeks ago. "Snap' was sick DIR.
Butler attempted to relieve him by mouth
full of common salt, which, in his hands, had
often worked wonders for dyspePtjc dogs. 1t
did not suit 'Snap's" palate. He seized bis
friend by the thumb and inflicted
SEVERE WOUND.
He was secured. The wound was at once
cleansed and poulticed. An assistant, in
taking the dog to DIR. Buffers Brooklyn
place, by Roosevelt street ferry, had the
misfortune to let the brute escape from his
covered basket. He ran yelping and foam.
| ing among the frightened boat load of pas
gers as they were landing, bit an un.
known man, and was killed by policeman
DIR. Butler knew there was no danger OF
hydrophobia. He treated his wounded
thumb attentively and with skill. Nature
smiled on his endeavor and it was soon
healed. DR.. Butler was not well. Fol
years had been prey to indigestion, and il
was now tormenting him. But as for the
/ dog bite, that was mere nOthing-a for
| gotten. .trifle. He had been bitten countless
times before.
Last Monday morning DIR. Butler sal
down to his breakfast, feeling in better
health than he had been for a long time
A cup of tea being handed him, he noticed
a strangely disagreeable feeling of choking
and was unable to swallow it. He theT
asked for seidlitz powder, which, wher
being brought, caused a recurrence of the
choking, and was instantly rejected witt
uncomfortable aversion. DR.. Butler alsC
complained of pain in The
back of the neck at the base
OF the brain. His wife, who is lady o
culture and good judgment, at once sent fol
the family hysician, DIR. Francis M. Lorette
of No. 529, Grand street, Williamsburg. Or
his arrival DR.. Butler said to him that h'
thought he had taken cold; he had pains, ht
said, in his head and neck. He alluded Il
the dog bite, but said, "Of course, you know
that has nothing to do with this trouble
which evidently comes from my getting