The New York herald., 1874-07-16
HYDROPHOBIA.
Mccormick Case-A Jury OF Medical
Men-The Doctors Do Not Disagree.


McCormick's Case-A Jury OF Medical
Men-The Doctors Do Not Disagree.
| At the preliminary inquiry held some time age
! In the case OF William Mccormick q butcher, late
OF No. 500 East Fifty first street. supposed to have
died from hydrophoba caused by the bite Of dog
few weeks previous, the Coroner considering il
to the advantage OF science and sanitary purposes,
thought lit to postpone the examination and en-
pannel jury OF ten OF the most eminent
medical men IN the city. The reinves'
tigat0n took place yesterday at the COrOner's
once IN East Houston street, commencing q: two
O'Clock and lasting until six p. NJ, when, after a
large amount OF testimony had been taken, the
Court was again postponed till Friday evening, in
order to allow the jury to prepare their verdict
ana ofer such opinions as the case suggested for
public information and guidance. The various
evidence elicted left not the least reasonable doubt
that the man had been bitten by dog some few
weeks previous to the appearance OF the serious
symptoms Immediately preceding his demise. But
wne ther the dog that had bitten hun was rabd or
not no satisfactory proof could be obtained. The
animal more especially suspected Is still alive and
healthy. This suspicion rests mainly on the word
OF one Kelly. who was present at the time McCor-
man has been since convicted at the
Special sessions, and some OF the witnesses
yesterday declared that he was not per-
son 10 be believed on oath and on the whole the
accusation against tnls particular animal, which
belongs TO William Mason, livery stable Keeper,
residing at No. AIS East Fortyninth street, was OF
most unsubstantlal character, the owner and
ness and continuous healthy condition. Mr.. Mar
mott. keeper OF the dog pound, was inclined to
the pound about the time It is said Mccormick re
ceived the wound. The brute re-
ported as having bitten some persons, and
appeared suspciously sulky and uncomfortable.
But beyond this slight coincidence Mr.. Marriott
was unable TO state any thing further to bring this
unfortunate cur in connection witn the case under
e.
stroyed, ana no lull proof could De adduced as to
IT'S rabdness or ldentity. The medical evidence on
tue history treatment, autopSica and micro
scopical examinations OF the case was long and
minute. AT the conclusion OF the testi-
among the members Of the jury that every
tnlng went TO establish the fact that Mccormick
came to his death from hydrophooa, caused by
the bite OF dog, but whether such animal was
rabld or not no definite Information had been pre-
sented.
DR.. Frank Hamilton acted as foreman OF the
jury, consisting OF DR.. Meredith Clymer, Jacob,
crosse and Others whose names have been al
ready furnished. The investigation was conducted
John Mccormick, brother oil the deceased, stated
that his brother never mentioned the fact OF his
having been bitten; the wound must have been OF
the slightest sort,
Michael Osulhvan, a bartender at No. 23o East
Forty-seventh street, testified that some twelve
weeks ago Mccormick and Kelly came to his saloon
Tor some brandy to pour on a wound caused by a
dog bite on the formers hand; Kelly SAID the dog
belonged to Mr.. Mason; the wound seemed like
the scratch from q pin.
The Coroner here stated he had made great ef-
forts. but up to the present without success, TO
get at and produce Kelly. DR.. Alexander Had
denis evidence was recapituaton OF that given
on the previous occasion and his report read at
the Neurological Society. He was fully convinced
that II any such distinctive disease as nydrOphO-
ba existed the deceased had certainly died from
tnat. All the symptoms were undoubtedly mani
tested. In this opinion DR.. Hadden was cOrrobo-
rated by Drs Leavitt and Hammond. who had also
attended the patient. DIR. Hammond's minute
mcroscOpical examination OF deceased's
brain disclosed fatty atrophy Of the cell
structures IN the cortical substance cerebe-
lum and nerve roots, showing granular matter
stances attendant on hydrophoba, but not absent
In other diseases William Mason, ST.; William
Mason, Jr., and their servant, Timothy COnklln
testified TO the uniform genteness OF the dog ac-
cused by Kelly as the evn dOer and its perfect
health up to the present time.
Alter some remarks from the Coroner calling the
attention OF the jury to the system OF precaution
against canine rabies IN European cities, the case
was adjourned till eight p. NJ on Friday next.