Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-06-06
HYDROPHOBIA.
DEATH OF A wELL.KsowN TEACHER OF
FRENCH FROM THE BITE OF A CUR.


HARTFORD. Conn, June ! - The
first recorded case of hydrophobia in
this city for thirty years terminated
fatally yesterday. On the Both of last
April Professor Victor Alvergnat, a
teacher Of French, was severely bitten
by a vagrant dog that he attempted to
drive from his Office. The wounds
were soon afterward bathed with car.
bolic acid and cauterized as a precau-
tionary measure bydrophobia being
apprehended both by the Professor
and his friends. The former was con.
siderably excited, and seeking books
Of authority on the subject be closely
read everything relating to mad dogs
and the dread disease. Letters also
poured in upon him suggesting rene.
dies of various kinds, until the mind of
the Professor, who was naturally Of a
volatile temperament, was worked up
to high pitch OF nervous excitement.
As time passed il was hoped that
the danger was over, but on Monday
Of this week he experienced an op.
prcssiye feeling and difficulty in swal
lowing, accompanied by depressed
spirits. Water was repulsed, but be
would take ice il placed in small pieces
in his mouth, while his food was limit
ed 10 beef tea and milk, owing to the
exertion required in the swallowing of
solids. Tuesday witnessed an increas.
ed weakness Of body and greater ner.
vous excitement, and as the hours
passed the sufferer rapidly grew worse
until early Wednesday evening, when
he was seized with terrible convul-
sions. lie made repeated attempts to
dash bis head against the walls of his
room and sprang at his attendants,
sometimes splitting at them. Finally,
by the aid OF four strong men, he was
placed in straight jacket, and NOR.
phine and chloral were administered
with beneficial results. Other convul.
sions, but somewhat less severe, occur.
red at midnight, after which the vic
tim fingered along in a state OF semi
consciousness until a quarter to ten
A. NJ. yesterday when he expired.
The physicians who attended the
unfortunate man differ as to the nature
of the disease Some persistently claim .
that all the symptoms were those Of
hydrophobia, while others believe that
the disease was merely Of a nervous or
hysterical nature, growing out of the 1
excitement occasioned by conversation
and reading on the subject of hydro.
phoba. From the first he slubbornlv
refused to take any of the remedies
recommended, and after the disease
finally manifested itself the physicians
were unable to check its progress. The
dog, which was shot on the morning
following the biting, was common
yellow cur, and exhibited no symptoms
Of madness.
A post mortem examination was made
yertcrday afternoon, which was very
largely attended. fhe rigor mortis was
extremely marked, and there was con.
gestion OF the membrane of the brain
and the spinal cord, but not to sufii-
cient extent, it was thought, to have
caused death; consequently death is
believed to have resulted from hydro.
phobia. Professor Alvergnat was a
Partisan, and fed to America, owing
to his participation in the revolution
Of lS4S. He taught French in Brook.
yn for some years, and has for sixteen
years been the French professor in the
Hartford high school His education
was thorough, and he recently pub.
ished two text books of the French
language.