The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-20
DEATH FROM A CATS BITE.
A PEcULI1R CASE or HYDR0PHO-
BIA IN A TEN- YEAR nor.
Symptoms that Competent Physicians Say |
surely Indicated the Dreadful Meiady-The
HesuIt Of a Post-M oriem Exn nation.

Result Of n Post-M ortem Examination.
Dewitt Clinton Lewis, about ten years
old, died at o'clock on saturday afternoon at
2OS sullivan street, Of what DR. Henry ). Downs,
the attending physician, thinks was hydropho-
bia. Two months ago he tried to pet an old
black cat that had been chased by boys of the
neighborhood, and was bitten on the right wrist.
The wound he led, and he was as well as usual
until last Friday. At o'clock A. ". he rose
from his bed and Insisted on being dressed.
During the thir;y-six hours that ensued before
his death he did not have his clothes on. He
was extremely nervous. Whenever door was
opened and he felt draught Of cool air he went
into spasms. When water was offered to him
he rad spasm In his throat; but he was able to
take doses OF bromide OF potash in coffee aud
milk. On Saturday he exhibited symptoms OF
st. Vitus's dance. frequently as he lay on the
lounge in the parlor he rested entirely on the
back Of his he I'd aud his heels, 50 that hand
could be passed under his body. This was the
result Of a rigid contraction OF the muscles ut
the back Of the body. 1t is premOnitorS symp-
tom Of lockjaw, Of which, DIR. Downs says, hy-
drOphobia patients usually die. The bov was IN
possession of his senses, but at times fell into
dreamy state About i've minutes before his
de ith he turned over ON the lounge and, rising
on his hands and knees, elected from the air
pass yes Of his throat a quantity OF mucous
matter and foam. lie then lay down and passed
quietly away.
Dr. Downs say. that he related these facts to
Ut. W I'LL tm n. hammond ana Ut. AUSTIN filnt,
and that both ooncutred with him In the opinion
that II was "A case OF hydrophobia. The cat has
not been seen since the bite was given. DR..
Thomas &. Finnell aud DIR. Cushing, VINO made
the post-inortem examination, found no foam
In the air passages OF tue turOat,and no evidence
OF disease In any Orktn except the brain. Tne
brtin substance was not injured. hut the blood
vessels In the membrane that covers the brain
were gOrgeu with veuou5 blood and were
almost black IL therefore agreed that
death resulted from congestion OF tue brain,
aud verdict was rendered ny the COioner's
Jury yes erday afternoon In accordance with
the testimony. DIR. Hnnoll afterward said that
he was sure congestion of the brain caused
death. but was not sure that the congestion was
not used by hydrophObic blood poisoning.
Young LewIr was a remarkabl, handsome boy,
with a highly nervous organization. At the
Wooster street public school ne was the finest
reader In his class, and had made rapid pr oRress
IN ari hmetic. He used to study or read every
evening at home from o'clock until Y. Two
yea sgO his father promised to buy him a ye-
Iocipede. lie looked forward TO Its possession
With extrayugant expectation VI pleasure. 1t
WAS bought for hlm on last Wednesday. Gu
Thursday afternoon he took IL to Washington
squ re, and rode on It until after dark. luis II
l. urged by some Of the neignbOrs, was the To-
direct cause Of death, and not the bite of the
cat.