The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-06-18
WHAT Is HYDROPHOBIA9
Some Remarkable Instances Of the
Eneets of Dog Bites after Many Years.

Some Remarkable Instances Of the
Eneets of Dog Bites after Many Years.
An interesting paper on hydrophobia
was read by DR.. Charles p. Russell at
the meeting of the Medical Society of
New York. DR.. Russell has given the
subject much thought and research,
and his essay will be valuable contri-
button to the not very extended litera-
ture of this most dreaded and myste-
rious disease. He fully sustains the
views expressed by us some time since,
that it is among ours and mongrels, the
Pariahs and outcasts Of dogdom, the
disease usually originates, and that
these should be unrelentingly destroy
ed. It is certainly better that ninety
nine innocent dogs should suffer than
one guilty one should escape to destroy
human life by the most terrible of agen-
cies. That is doctrine which scarce
ly Mr.. Bergh himself can dispute, more
especially since DIR. Russell supports
Mr.. Bergh's views, which are also the
views of every sensible person, on the
fallacy Of supposing that muzzling dogs
in hot weather will act as preventive
of the disease DIR. Russell stated very
clearly there is no distinctive season
for hydrophobia and, if anything,
there is rather less liability to it in the
summer, unless the tendency be in
creased by this most absurd and cruel
practice of muzzling.
Two points appear, in the discussion,
says the New York Times, to have been
less fully elucidated than those who
are interested in the subject would de-
sire. One is the curious eclecticism-
if we may so term it-shown by the dis
ease in attacking only one or another
out OF several who may have been bit
ten by the same animal. This would
seem to support the theory of those
who contend that it is, to great ex-
tent, an affection of the imagination
and the nerves. Yet, on the other
hand, cases are numerous where the
imagination can have had little or no
Influence in producing the most horri-
bic manifestations of the disorder. And
of these none are more remarkable than
two instances recorded in the news
papers about a fortnight since, and
which, if authentic, tend to deepen the
mystery and increase the inevitable
ness which make hydrophobia SO ap-
palling.
Eighteen years ago, it is said, one
Daniel G. Weidner, of Farmingdale,
n. j., then child of six, was bitten in
the arm by rabid dog. The wound,
though painful, healed after time,
and he doubtless congratulated himself
on a wonderful escape. No incon-
yenience appears to have resulted from
it until few days ago, when, on at.
tempting to wash his face, he was at
tackled by commissions, which the doc
tors declared to be those of hydropho-
bia In spite of every effort he grew
worse, and died in great agony within
forty eight hours after the attack. The
weak point in this narrative, as we find
| it recorded, is the omission to state
whether at any time during this inter-
val of eighteen years he had been again
bitten. It is plainly implied, however,
that he was not, and that his hydropho-
bia was the result of the wound inflicted
eighteen years ago.
The other case is even more striking.
| Twenty-one years since, little daugh-
ter of Peter Hank, of Monroe County,
Pa, was bitten, as Weidner was, by a
dog Enthusiastically mad. She, too, un-
der prompt and proper treatment, re-
covered, to all appearance she grew to
womanhood, and was married, without
any unfavorable consequences from the
wound. Two weeks ago, however, the
fatal symptoms appeared, and after
four days of extreme suffering she died
of what her physicians declared to be
undoubted hydrophobia. The same
omission is noticeable here as in the
other case, and, indeed, it seems in-
| ore5;l,1a tbat bydropbOhio cbould ro
suit from q wound inflicted so many
years before. Both cases are worthy OF
investigation, and we should be glad to
see an authoritative decision on their
merits by the Medical Society. 1t will
add immeasurably to the horror OF
hydrophobia to know that its venom
may be latent in the system for nearly
an entire lifetime, only to carry off its
victim at last, when he has long deemed
himself entirely secure.