The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-20
THE HYDROPHOBIA CASE.
Full Particulars.
Symptoms of the Patient.
What the Disease Is.

w Hat UuC DlSCdSO ACs
The late hydrophobia case having attracted
more than ordinary attention, and many con-
tradictory reports as to the symptoms OF Mr..
Harveys disease having been circulated, q
BULLETIN reporter visited the residence OF
the unfortunate gentleman Tor the purpose
of cleaning the exact facts Of the case and
placing them before the public.
1t appears that Mr.. Harvey owned small
pet, which was a cross dog between flee and
a terrier, which was remarkable for its docile
nature. The children were accustomed to
play with the animal, and even pull it about
and use it very roughly, and no signs OF
anger we're ever shown until about ten weeks
ago, while one of the children was playing
with the dog, it turned around angrily and
bit the child.
After this it inflicted, a severe scratch on
Mrs. Harvey's hand with its claws. The dog
then showed unmistakable signs Of rabies,
such as dropping of the head, lolling OF the
tongue, eyes dull and retracted, and desire
to seek the darkest and most quiet places.
These being the symptoms Of the dog, he
sought refuge under the house to avoid the
light, or the interference of any one.
When Mr.. Harvey returned home in the
evening, his wife informed him of the dog
condition and the fact that it had bitten the
child, whereupon he went in search of the
animal with the intention of killing it. In
his endeavor to get it from under the house,
the dog snapped at him, inflicting bite upon
Mr.. Haryeys. third finger of the right hand.
Several persons advised Mr.. H. to apply
some remedy or to call upon some physician,
but he treated the matter lightly until some
DAYS after when his hand became very painful
and was swollen in terrible manner, when
he sought the attention of physician, who,
taking the matter in hand, healed the hand,
| and, as every one at the time imagined,
effected permanent cure.
Mr.. Harvey again resumed his occupation
as screwman, and the bite that he had re-
ceived passed out of his mind until the day
before his first symptoms of hydrophobia,
when he complained Of severe pain in his
hand and arm. It then struck him that it
was caused from the bite he had received and
| that he had over-exerted his arm while al
work.
On Tuesday evening, the 18th inst, Mr..
Harvey was lying down. When his wife called
him in to supper she noticed peculiar un-
easiness in his manner, and could not account
for it. He sat down at the table, but as he
took the first mouthful of food he fell back
INA TERRIBLE FIT,
and was seized with choking as if the food
had stack in his throat.
| His wife Immediately called in assistance
and placed her unfortunate husband in bed,
when he was thrown into one spasm after
another, refusing to be famed or to allow the
slightest air to blow upon him. Water was
offered to the suffering man, which he re-
fused, throwing it away from him. His wife
then tried to give him the water through a
straw, thinking that he could not swallow 1t
from the glass; but with the same result.
! He then rose from the bed and walked up
and down the room, not allowing any one to
come near him, and frequently warming his
wife and children away by violent jesticula-
tions. Another attempt was made to give
him water by means Of tin-spoon, he took
it. but threw the water out and began to
chew the spoon. By the aid OF some OF the
neighbors Mr.. Harvey was placed IN bed,
when a thick white foam began to run from
his mouth.
Through the entire night he coughed IN
| distressing manner, the so0nd being ex-
tremely hoarse and hollow, his movements
were restless, not wishing to lie in the same
position for minute at time. During the
whole night and the next day Mr.. Harvey did
not sleep and refused every description Of
food or drink which were offered him, but all
the while recognizing his wife, children and
friends who were around him, and showing
no signs of violence towards them, but
seemed to know his condition, and said that
he could not recover.
In the evening of the second day Mr,AHa..
yey was brought from his residence in. 0Tet-
ma and taken to the Charity Hospital ID thf
city. He talked very lucidly on the way, ID
had peculiar look about his eyes, and occa'
sionally begged of his friends not to smother
him, but to kill him easily.
Several neighbors were interviewed by the
BULLETIN reporter who inquired If Mr. Har.
vey had previous to this attack been subject
to fits or any disorder, but it was the state
ment of all who knew him that he had never
been subject to them, and be was uncom
monty healthy, scarcely ever having day
sickness throughout his life and never nav
ing been seriously i'll; also that he was mar
of good habits and by no means a hare
drinker.
AT THE HOSPITAL.
When Harvey reached the Charity Hospita
there was no marked increase in the violenc'
of his symptoms. He talked at interval
nationally, but showed great mental depres
sion, as if realizing his condition. Ate
alighting from the carriage he was assistet
into the clerks office, and strong convulsiv
fit came on. The limbs were spasmodicall
contracted, the eyes assumed a wild glare
and his condition was quite similar to on
suffe ing from an attack of epilepsy.
1t was not long before he was carried up t.
Ward 81 on the third floor, and DR.. Carson
assisted by Mr. Schlatre, did all they coul'
for him without avail. All the symptom
: we're those of bydrophobia, and after a fit b
, died of asthenia.
There is so much ignorance prevailing re
, garding rabies, or dog madness, at this sea
"a Al