The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-06-04
The Sensation of Hydrophobia.

A VICTIM details his sufferings In the
Courier DIES Etats Usis as follows:
I was surprised to see appear, from .
black cabinet, people who spoke to me;
then enormously long rats ran along the
furniture, always by the side. The illu-
sion was such that at first I oftenchanged
my position to convince myself whether
it was an illusion or reality. Afterward
falling stars appeared at q moment when
least expected them, always from the
internal to the external angle of the eye,
which forced me instinctively to turn my
head. simultaneously was seized with
trembling of the skin and a feeling of I'M
speakable horror. In the place of dark
ness, or during the night, my room ap-
peared illuminated as by flash of light.
ming. At last, seeing that nothing would
arrest this mysterious agent, had re-
course to the datura stramonium, or
thornapple of Peru. A Catholic mission
ary had informed me of its wonderful
efficacy fifteen years ago. took q strong
dose of it, four or five leaves, and COM
menced to write, although with some
difficulty. Half an hour after the remedy
had not taken effect, when suddenly .
strong electric CONFUSION, like fireworks,
or rather like puff of steam, ran through
all my limbs, from head to foot, produc-
ing in the entire surface of the skin .
general trembling and sensation of heat,
accompanied by disposition to fly and
an indefinable feeling of terror. 1t seemed
to me had fireworks in my eyes. l re-
bounded as if impelled by aspiring. 1t
seemed to me was engaged in . deadly
combat between the vital and morbid prin-
cirles, the latter of which endeavored to
impose itself tyrannically, like adominat-
ing power, against which all the active
forces reacted with superhuman energy.
At the same moment became delirious,
and lost all consciousness. The patient
retains in the delirium the dominant idea
of restraining himself, and of endeavor-
ing to repossess his faculties. Neverthe-
less, in this state the commissions became
more frequent. They are always accom-
panied with the same sentiment of fear,
and the necessity of reaction and flight.
The muscular force is prodigiously in
creased he is without fatigue; the weight
of the body is no impediment to the
limbs; it seems only necessary to make
the attempt to skim over the earth, as in
certain dreams. The contraction of the
muscles of the legs causes sudden fall,
when he becomes perfectly rigid. He
realizes he has fallen when he is restored
to consciousness by the shock of the fall,
and he arises quickly. The nervous ex-
element is such that he is very nearly in
sensible to pain. The figures of the most
familiar persons appear furious, threaten.
ing, and provoking; and, contrary to the
general sentiment of terror which one
feels internally from conclusions, one is
intrepid and ready to brave all exterior
dangers. The paroxysms commenced at
$3.50 IN the afternoon. At 10 o'clock in
the evening the remedy began to take
effect, and the next day only q great
prostration was felt. The invalid at
tributed all the phenomena of the de-
lirium to the gas produced in the organic
tissues by the influence of the virus.