Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-07-03
From the y. Y. Tribune, of Monday.
MORE HYDROPHOBIA.
Another Fatal Case.

JAOhEI.
Those who have doubted the existence |
of hydrophobia were taken aback yester- I,
day by the death of William Mccormick of
No. 3O9 East Fifity-first street, whose case |
exhibited all the most pronounced symp- |
toms of that disease. a little over month !
ago, Mr.. Mccormick, who.is butcher,
and also follows the express business, was
bitten bv small dog. The wound was
upon the hand, and was so slight that 1t
seemed to be only scratch, and OF no I'M
portauce 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 dam
ger The dog was taken to the pond 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 tina. he had rheu-
matism and again laughed at the fears OF
his wife and family. He continued to grow
worse and applied linaments and fomenta-
tions. He did not consult physician and
continued about his business as usual.
On Wednesday at 10 Mr.. Mccormick
complained of feeling peculiar creeping
sensation coming up his back and spread
inc over his shoulders and the back Of his
neck. He told his wife that he felt faint,
and she brought him glass of water. Tie
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 pur-
pie, aud his face presented the appearance
of a person asphyxiated by choking. The
muscles about his neck were contracted,
and he caught his breath rapidly, and at
intervals could not breathe at all DIR. He'd
dou of No. 15j East Fifty-frst street was
sent for and he reached the house as the
spasm was passing Off The physician ex-
amined the patient carefully, and pro-
nounced the case one Of true hydrophobia,
He prescribed anodynes, and went ont
promising to call again at 10 O'Clock.
Dr. Heddon called upon DIR. W. Z. Lea
witt of No. 140 East Fifty-frst street, and
requested him TO cali with him upon Mr..
| Mccormick. At 10, as agreed upon, they
met at McCormick's house, and went to
tho patient's room. Without hesitation
DIR. Leayitt said that he considered the
case one of pronounced hydrophobia. Since
the former visit the case had advanced very
rapidly, and the convulsions followed each
other with great rapidity. Seeing the pa
tent would soon DC beyond the control OF
the family, male nurses were sent for. The
most powerful anodynes and narcotics
seemed TO have no effect, and the disease
increased rapidly toward a fatal termina-
ton.
At 3:l5 yesterday morning the cOnvul-
sions were so terrible tha. the nurses could
not control the patient. He would straight
en- 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. Perspiration rolled
from all parts of his body, wettins through
his shirt and the bedding. His face was
livid, and from time to time his throat
seemed to contract, until the large muscles
stood out in cords. His agony was III
tense, and even chlorOform could not bt
given TO quiet the convulsions. At length
a natrolmar was called in and sent to the
tifty-ninth street Police Station for helI
and a straight Jacket. Sergeant Tanning
sen. Roundsman West with the straight
Jacket and to render such assistance a:
might be necessary. With their united
strength the straight jacket was applied
and then more contIol could be exercised
over the patient.
The physicians remained with Mr.. Nc
Cormick all night, but their efforts wer,
unavailing. Yesterday forenoon Drs
William A. Hammond, Hogan, &. V. Rus
sci, Hamilton, Viele of the Board of Health
Tuttle, Cremin, Z. ID. Leavitt and othe
scientists were called in to see the patient
They made careful examination of th'
facts connected with the case. Each symp
tom was weighed with the greatest care
and every point upon which issue could b
taken was discussed fully. At length thel
drophobia, and that no doubt could be cas-
. upon its genuineness. The time that hat
elapsed from the bite Of the dog agreet
with the usual time of incubation. Tn
slight nature of the wound did not miltat
against the diagnosis, because many Of tn
most pronounced cases of hydrophObia oil
record have come from just such pune
lures. The healing of the wound was na.
tural, and this is usual after the bites o
rabid dogs. The first symptoms and th,
!. rapid progress of the disease agreed will
the scientific Investigations in prevlou
cases in London and Paris. The fata
termination must soon come, and then
scientific investigation il to be made, anC
the microscope may revea. important facts
The treatment had been the free admins
tratiOn of anodynes and narcotics, as IA
as possible, but the constancy with whicl
tie conyulsions rapidly followed each Othe
made the administration Of any remedie
uncertain and difficult.
During the afternoon Mr.. McCormicl
was constantly in . state of spasm. y
rapidly did they follow one another tha
the convulsions seemed almost continuous
About 4 O'Clock signs of weakness wer
shown for the first time, and it becam
evident that change was near. \ littl
chlorofQrm was administered, and after
wards the patient waa little easier, ant
tried to speak. Before his sentence coul'
be finished, another spasm came on, NOR
terrible than any. His back was bent lik
a bow, and the entire weight of the bod
rested upon the head and heels. His jaw:
crashed together, and once his teeth wen
through his tongue, causing it to bleed pro
fusely. The blood and froth ran from hi
mouth spattcring over his face and the be-
clothes. Then giving a tremendous strug
Gle, almost bursting the bonds of th