The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-08-03
POISONED BY A WILD-CAT.
A MAN IN CALIFORNIA WHO HAS ALL THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CATAMoUNT.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CATAMoUNT.
The San Francisco Post, of June 9th,
says: The peculiar power which crazy
CANNES possess of injecting human beings
with like disorder by a simple insertion
of their teeth into any part of the human
body which may come handy has long been
a source of uueasiness to mankind. The
recent crusade against Spitz dogs through
out the East, the earnestneSs with which it
has been carried on, we'll exemplifies the
estimation in which this power is held.
The feline specie has, however, never been
credited with any such uncomfortable abil-
ity, but a case now existing at San Quentin
and somewhat puzzling all the medical men
who have examined it, seems to indicate
that the bite of a mad cat under certain
circumstances may produce effects some-
what akin to and nearly as uncomfortable
as that OF a mad dog.
On the Sd of January last there was re-
ceived at tue prison young man named
Charles ThomaSou, sentenced to four years
imprisonment for the plebean crime of
stealing hogs in Siskiyou county. He was
Of medium height, stoutly built, weighing
some one hundred and sixty pounds, and
appeared to be i'll perfect health. lie soon
gave them taste of his quality, however,
and showed them that he was not one of
your common convicts by gong into one of
nearly soaring his attendants out of their
seven senses.
An investigation of his previous history
showed that three years ago, while herding
sheep in Siskiyou, he had attemp ed to
take catamount, an animal sharing the
qualities of the wildcat aud panther, from
a steel trap in which it had been caught.
While holding it i'll place with forkef
limb, the fork broke and he fell forward on
hn yI, hpfn ba
gave him several severe bites, one, the
deepest, on the neck near the spine, and
others on the arms and left hand. The
wounds, though severe, were not danger
Gus, and III about six weeks they were en-
tirely healed. A week afterwards, howev-
er, he experienced fit or spasm, max ing
noises and behaving himself exactly like
the animal that had bitten him. The
spasms continued at irregular intervals of
a month and six weeks. They were weak
at first, but increased in duration and vio-
lence as time went on. He was finally sent
to the Insane Asylum at Stockton, wheie
he remained for five months and was either
discharged as iucurable under the i'm
preston that the spasms had entirely ceas-
ed. He lived back in Siskyou from that
time till his arrest and sentence, and the
latter, though unfortunate for him, is per-
haps fortunate thing for medical science,
which has ever engaged the medical men
of this coast. Upon the night Of his arrival
at the prison he was taken with spasm,
as stated, and removed to the hospital.
where the convulsons lasted for period Of
ten days at intervals of twenty four hours.
They have continued about a month apart,
the one occurring in the early part of this
month and lasting three days. During the
prevalence of them the man is one of the
instincts being entirely absent and the
appearance, manners and conduct of the
man being those of a gigantic wildcat. A
fortunate circumstance is that the tit is al
ways preceded by a short period nf insensi-
bility. Whenever he sinks nto this, the
guards. who are kept constantly watching
him, Immediately seize the ropes and straps
which are kept handy, pu. "A straight jacket
on him, and tie him down in the firmest
possible way to his bedstead. After short
or long period of inseusIbility he awakes
his face during the interim having been
wonderfully transformed. The eyes have
grown round like q cats, and glare with
the insane frenzy of a wild animal. the fea
lures, though otherwise unchanged, have
taken upon themselves an expression Of
animal ferosity utterly different from their
usual mild and placid expression, and with
out any sound from him he appears more
like confined animal than a man. The
slightest thing however, throws him into
wild rage. His hands and feet are used
as paws and he will strike at anything
| within reach with fingers outstrt ched like
claws. His movements are very quick, and
he will suap any one who approaches with
all the agility and vic;ousDess of a cat
Moreover he is unable to speak, his only
utterances being low puTring sound when
| quiet and a snarling, splitting sonnd when
aroused. Tied, as he is, lie will spring and
! catch in,his mouth flies that come near him,
aud as he is very muscular, his attempts to
spring upward raise the ends of his heavy
bedstead completely off the floor.
His most notable Characteristic is his in
creased power of scent. Should a cat be
anywhere i'll the large room, however it
may be concealed, he will Immediately To-
cate il and make frantic eXertions TO get at
it, evincing the widest fury if it is brought
near him. The instant one is brought into
the place. however covered mp, he is able
to detect it and if it be moved from place
TO place, his eyes and head will be turned to
follow it keeping up all the time the low,
angry rurr of the wild cat OF the open-
mouthed snarl of the aroused beast. The
spasm lasts from one to four hours. Dur
ing the insensibe state preceding the spasm
the pulse increases 70 about 40 beats per
minute. and the skin becomes covered with
Il cold perspiration. When the spasm
leaves him he sinks into prolonged sleep,
from which he awakes in his normal condi-
tion, his soreness and a slight difficulty
in breathing being the only indication to
him of his attack.
OF what he has been doing he then
knows nothing. His complaint does not
seem to have injured his bealth, as he now
weighs about one hundred and seventy five
aud outside of the spasms appears perfectly
healthy. The case is attracting a good
deal Of attention, and the man was on Fri
day last examined by DIR. Gibson and DIR.
Sims. the latter being a physician of very
high standing in Paris, where he resides,
and at present on visit to this coast. Drs.
Black and Stivers of this city. also held a
consultation with DIR. Pelhalm, the prison
surgeon, on Thursday last, an0 others have
also consulted the last named gentleman
concerning it, None but he has, however.
had the privilege of witnessing the spasms,