The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-01
HYDROPHOBIA.
DEATH OF WELL KNOWN TEACHER OF FRENCH
FROM THE BITE OF A yAGEANT CUE.
LlliliAPH 10 The HEIALps
HARTFORD, Conn, Nav 81

lDy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
HARTFORD, Conu., May 81, 1877.
The first recorded Of hydrophobia in this city
for thirty yours terminated fatally to-day. On e30Ib
oil last month Professor Victor Avcrgna teacher OF
French, severely bitten by vagrant dog that hc
attempted TO drive from his Office. The wounds
ailerward bathed with carbolic acid and
lied as a precautionary measure, hydrophobia being
apprchended both by the Professor and his friends.
The former considerably excited, and seeking
books Of authority on tho subject no closely read
everything relating TO mad dogs and tho dread disease
Letters also poured In upon him suggesting remedies
OF various KINDS, until the mind OF tho Professor who
was naturally OF u volatile temperament, worked
up to high pitch OF nervous excitement.
SYMPTOMS or THE DREADED DISEASE.
AS time passed 1t hoped that the danger was
over, but Monday Of this week he experienced an
oppressive iceling and difficulty in swallowing, accom-
panied by depressed spirits. Water ropu sed but
he would take If placed in small pieces in his
mouth, while his food limited to beef and
milk owing TO the excrtion required IN the Swallowing
OF solids Tuesday witnessed increased weakness
OF body and greater nervous excitement, and the
hours pissed the sufferer rapidly grow worse until
carly Wednesday evening, when no seized with
terrible commissions lie made repeated attempts 10
dash his against the walls OF his sprang
Mt his attendants sometimes sp,ttng them Finally
by tho md OF Tour strong mon, no was placed
STRAIT Jacket and inorphine ana choral were al.
ministcred with beneficial results. Other COMMISSIONS
but somewhat less severe, occurred ut midnight after
which the victim fingered along ia a state OF semi
consciousness until quarter TO ten A. H. to-day
when he expired
NATURE or TUE ILLNESS.
Tho physicians who attic Bdcd tho unfortunate man
differ TO tho nature o tho disease Some persist
emily claim that all tho symptoms were those of by
drophobia who others believe that the disease
merely OF nervous hyscrcal nature, growing out
oil tho excitement occasioned by conversation and
reading on the subject oil hydrophobia~ From tho
FIRST stuhborny refused 10 take OF the remedies
recommended and alter the disease finally manifested
itself the pn yscians unable 10 cheek us progress
Tho dog who shot on the morning following the
biting, was common yellow cur, and exhibited no
symptoms OF madness
PJsI-MDRrEM EXAMINATION
a post.InoTtcm examination Was made this after
noon, which very largely attended. inc riggr
s0rfis extremely Marked and there congestion
OF the membrane OF tho brain and OF the spinal cord
but sufficient extent IL was thought 10 havo
caused death consequently death Is believed TO have
resulted from bydrophoba. Professor Aivcrsnat was
Partisan, aud fed to America owing to his particpa
ton IN Tho revolution or 1913. lie taught French In
Brooklyn for some years, and has tor sixteen years
been the French professor IN tue Hartford oh school
HIS education was thorough and he recently published
two text books oil the French language.