The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-27
YDR HOB IA.
A TEST CASE TO BE MADE.
Distinguished Scientists Crap
ping with the Question.
An Investigation Now or
Never.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE DOCT6gs


The acknowledgement rom hyarophobia OF Mr..
William Mccormack Of No. 300 East Fifty first
street. has been. the occasion Of earnest revival
Of inquiry into the pathology OF this dread but
mysterious disease While the family much
ayerse 10 publicity and are panied at The details
that have been given TO the public, 1t has now
become an unavoidable necessity to thus brieny
refer to the occasion of Vie assembly OF learned
nen from whore labors in the next few weeks so
much may be hoped.
The inquest viii not be held till the 18th OF July.
The jury, who were present at the autopsy yester-
day and were solemnly lntrusted with minute
fragments OF the organs mainly affected for micro
scopic exaglination, consist OF Professor Meredith
Clymcr, President OF the Neurological Society; DR..
Charles r. Russell, late Registrar OF Vital Status
tics; DIR. JacoDy, Professor In the College OF Ply
sicisns ana Surgeons DR.. 7. NJ B. Gross OF the New
York University; Professor William A. Hammond,
Of the New York University; Professor Frank Ham,
Mton, OF Bellevue Hospital; DR.. Schoonaver, DR..
LeavtIt, Dr. Hidden ana Or. Leo.
CORONER KEssLER's VIEWS.
The Coroner declined TO enter into any detail in
the present case on account OF HIS Official connec-
ten with II. He, however, thinks 1t or the greatest
Importance that the subject OF nydrophobia should
be thoroughly looked into and with that object
has empanehed q body oil physicians OF nigh
eminence in the speciality OF nervous diseases He
believes the present inquiry win lead TO the most
encouraging results; that cure for nydrophobia
may even be discovered. He IS determined to do
his utmost TO further the ends OF science
IN the matter, and thinks the medical
men OF Europe and the world in general will
largely look to the developments IL this ease. He
thinks too that it may be possible TO frame some
intelligent law which Will be TO he approved
by the Legislature in the whole vexed question
about the treatment OF dogs, whether sane or in
sane. He has himself. unhappily, had five distinct
cases OF unmstakabie hydrophobia within very
short period recently and sorrowiuly speaks OF
the sad end to the joyous life OF ada Clare the
bright ''Queen OF Bohemia
DR. RUssELL's OPINIONS
were fully expressed, he says, in lengthy report
orally and hydrophoola IN particular He is con-
-fdent that there has yet been no cure tor hydro
covered some time, is another question AL
people bitten oy dogs 90 not get hydro
Berkeley, the veteran aristocratic sportsman,
Of Worcestershire, England ana DR.. Philpotts do
not believe IN mad dogs &C all he recommends
IDENTITY considers the conclusions OF that author
very sound, SO far as they 60, IN the present in
fancy OF all inteliigible understanding OF very
obscure disease.
INTERVIEW WITH DIR. CROSS.
The Doctor mentioned that an exhaustive analysis
OF the causes and treatment OF hydrophobla will
be considered by the Neurological Society, on the
9th Of July, and begged 1t to be distinctly under
stood that his answers 10 the HERALD
representatives questions must be taken as but
informal expressions OF his opinion. Given under
The disadvantages OF being called away from time
10 time and the hurry and excitement OF the mel
anchoy occasion, the well rounded periods and
careful weighing OF terms which would come natu-
raj IN the secuslon OF his study, must not De ex-
pected
HERALD REPRESENTATIVE Doctor what is your
opinion OF the frequency OF hydrophobiaf
DR.. CRoss-It Is very rare. Many reported cases
OF hydrophobia are not the true disease. especially
when the symptoms after Development extend
over four days. In many cases hysterla and SINH
lar nervous MANIFESTATIONS, often occasioned by or
aggravated by extreme terror. are confounded with
hydropGobia and NAV, indeed often do, terminate
fatally. In my experience in connection with the
leading medical men OF this city have been FIVE
cases was the administration OF choral opium
and otner narcotics. Their exhibition produced
)Htle or no eject except, what indeed was very
desirable, TO mitigate the intensity Of the symp-
toms.
HERALD RErREsEsTArrvE-How is the disease
Dr. Crosby direct incubation. This has not
always been traced. nor IL u easy always to do So
put II IS my hrm opinion that every case will be
found on such investigation TO be due TO that cause.
All feline and canine animals as the cat dog,
VOL &C.. are liable 70 hydrophobla.
HERALD REPREsEsTArIvE-How long does 1t take
TOT the disease to show tselff
Dr CRoss-The period from incubation to de-
veopment in each OF those cases | speak know
ingly about was about two months.
HERALD kEpREsESTATIvE-Wha would be your
CaseY
Dr. Cross do not believe much IN lunar caus-
Tic. should prefer the actual cautery, or the ap-
plicatlon OF strong nitric acid after liberal excs.
Ion OF the parts affected AT the same time should
way, and also to stopping she circulation by tour
niquet The order OF these appliances would be, FIRST
the oandaging above the injury secondly, axclslon
aud bleeding; thirdly, the cautery. DR.. Youatt,
the famous English authority on horses, dogs and
cattle, believed in nitrate OF silver. He fre-
quently bitten and treated himself. He committed
suicide. and. IN the absence OF auy known
for the rash act, Is supposed to have been bitten
once too often 10 have been aroused TO the ineffi.
cacy oil his remedy, and to have destroyed himself
rather than face the horrors Of this most shocking
OF all deaths. Caustic Is but superficial cure II
might be useful as preventive II applied imme-
dately, but Is Of no use after the symptoms are
developed ever so slightly. The cause of
teraton cf the saliva no one can explain
how IT Is, but the poison may be communicated by
animals which are not actually mad The cases
proved mad are exceedingly rare, the first
thing done with the hrutes is usually 10 destroy
them, and this is sort OF negative proof OF this
theory.
INTERVIEW WITH DIR. HAMILTON
DR.. Allan McLane Hamilton Lecturer on Nervous
ID seases In the Long Island College Hospital. was
visited last night by HERALD representative at
his residence No III East Twepty-sixtn street
and kindly gave the following valuable iniorma-
tom
HERALD RErREsENTArIvE-Doctori is not hydro.
phobia getting rather common?
DR.. HAMfLroS-No, indeed II is q very rare
disease Less than twenty per cent OF people
bitten by alleged mad dogs are ever attacked By
bydrophopia.
HERALD REPREsENrATIvE--Are not other dog
bites dangerous as well as those from mad dogs2
DIT. MISUNDERSTANDING. The offending dog
may not show any sign OF madness Whatever and
the bite may yet be fatal. The development after
incubation may take rom thirty to forty days.
Alter that period should say person would be
perfectly sale. Other ANIMALS loxes, mar
tens, cats, 4c., may he, and often are, as danger
Gus when they bite as the maddest OF mad logs.
Many cases are called bydrophobia which are not
80 at all In my opinion hydrophoDla IS very rare.
Many cases so stigmajized are simply nervous DIS
eases, acute and very dangerous, out not hydro
phooia. IL Is very frequently The case that ac-
curate diagnosis can possibly be taken on account
of the excessive exhibition of stupefying and
POISONOUS doses OF powerful narcotics. Many
patients are absolutely
FILLED WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS
symptoms NAV be observed that al first seem 10
indicate nvdrophobia, and they are misJudged.
There are few really well authenticated cases OF
genuine hydrophobia statistics ia this regard