The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-05-02
Cure for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
Victim.

Cnder this significant title a scientific
journal of Paris publishes statement as
interesting to the public generally as to
the cause of science A man worthy of
all confidence was bitten by mad dog,
and suffered all the paroxysms Of frenzy
incident to that frightful malady. He
relates the terrible nature of his suffer-
lngs, and the means by which he was
cured. We take the account of his ex-
periences from the moment the strange
Authorizations began:
81 was surprised to see appear from
black cabinet persons who spoke to me,
rats, enormous spiders, which climbed
along the furniture, always at the side.
The illusion was such that, at first, often
tncommoded myself to be satisfied if it
were a reality or indeed an illusion.
Then suddenly, and at the moment when
l least expected it, darted, always from
the internal to the external angle of the
eye, flashes of light, which instinctively
compelled me to turn my head. These
were simultaneous, with general sensa-
ton of shuddering or trembling of the
skin, and sentiment of unspeakable
terror. In dark places, or during the
night, | have seen my apartment sud-
denly illuminated as by flash of light
ming. Finally, seeing that nothing seemed
to arrest the march of the irresistible agent
by which l was overpowered, had re-
course to the d0tatr0 strana0niua1a, or thorn
apple jamestown weed), the wonderful
efficacy of which was revealed some if
teen years ago by Father Legrand, a
Catholic missionary. Itook very strong
dose of the remedy, four or five leaves,
and began, not without difficulty, to write.
Half an hour afterward the remedy had
not yet operated, when suddenly strong
electric shock, with a sound somewhat re-
sembling the explosion of rocket, or
through my frame from head to foot, pro-
a general shuddering, accompanied by an
instructive desire to fly and a sentiment
of indefnable terror. It seemed to me
that fire squibs were darting from my
eyes. bounded backward as if moved
by spring. 1t appeared that was en-.
gagged in deadly combat between the
vital and the morbid principle, which lat.
ter had just imposed itself tyrannically,
like domineering power, against which
reacted with superhuman energy all the
active forces at my command. At the
same moment dclirium supervened, and /
lost consciousness Of my acts"
The patient preserved in his delirium the
ruling idea of moderating his excitement
and seeking to gain possession of himself
meanwhile, in this condition, the con
vulsions became more frequent. They
are always accompanied by the same sen
timent of terror and of the desire to react
and to fly. The muscular forces are
prodigiously augmented; the spatient be-
comes indefatigable. The wei ght of the
body seems not to weigh on the legs; the
person seems to skim over the earth as in
certain dreams The contraction of the
hamstrings results in sudden falls. The
sufferer fails to perceive that he IS faller
, until he is reused by the shock, when hi
starts up promptly. The nervous excite
ment is such that he becomes almost in
sensible to physical suffering. The mos
friendly and familiar countenances bea1
an aspect Of fury, menacing and provok
ing. And, unlike the general sentiment
of terror which occurs inward'y by
shocks, the sufferer becomes intrepid anc
ready to face all external dangers"
The paroxysms Of madness commenced
at $50 in the afternoon. At ten in tn,
evening the remedy began to act, and OF
the following day there remained of tn,
trightful malady nothing but genera
prostitution. The patient attributes to tn,
gas which is produced in the organic tbs
tues, under the influence of the virus, al
the phenomena of this madness.