Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-01

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY !. 1877.
Terrible Death from HydrOphobia.

Terrible Death from HydrOphobia.
Charles 7. Wetmore, a youog, industrious
mechanic, Of tho firm OF Wctmore & Horne
brock, builders at Ilartwe this county, lies
now at No g. Hopkins street, the victim of an
attack by hydrophoba that seems to have as
sumed the most positive and terrible shape
Wctmore is an unmarrlCd man, tWenty.six
years Of age, Of large, stroOg frame and GOOD
constitution. Oa Thursday las. he felt very
badly, and took a notion that If he could get
up strong persplration he could better him.
self. He went skating for that purpose, but
the violent exercise and the persplratlon re-
sultiDg did him no good, and he went to bed
that ght feeling worse. Friday morning be
went to take drink Of water. 10 his conster.
nation be found that he not only could not
take the water into his mouth, but that he
could not force his hand up to his mouth with
the cup. The effort 10 do this was met by ter
rible nervous irritation that he could not over
come. 1t is supposed that he did not, for he
came toto the city to attend to some business.
thirst, but could not take water. 1t was physical
impossibility with him. He had the will power
| to drink water, be thought, but not the power
to get it to his mouth. Feeling very i'll he went
to the home Of his friend, A. G. Wilson, the
young son Of Mrs. Wilson, at No. G. Hopkins
street. lie bad applied TO doctor, who, not
comprchendiDg the symptoms, had merely
given him prescription and sent him to bed.
| At one clock on Saturday morning young
Wilson, finding his friend in treDZied and
| dangerous condition Of nervousness aroused DR..
G. l.. Armstrong, OF Clark street, just back OF
| them. DR.. Armstrong went around and took
charge OF the case. Finding 1t SO remarkable
| case, he consulted other physicians, who agreed
with him that it was case of Eydrophobia in
| Il most positive shape.
% approaching the house our reporter,
while yet fifty feet away, could distinguish the
groans and means OF the victim, who was even
! theu, although bound with stout ropes, strug
Cling in the arms Of three men. He was gnash,
ing bis teeth AID toamipg at the mouth, and
| his groans had very much the sound Of the
growing OF dog. Soon he settled down some,
| under the Influence OF Il fresh hypcrdcrmlc ln-
lection that DR.. Armstrong had Just admins
| tered.
1cu or twelve years ago, 10 his native place,
Wctmorc was bitten by dog. Last summer
| he was again unfortunate in that respect, being
| bitten four times, three times BY one dog and
once by the other. Mrs Aden's dog was one
OF them, ana II ran away dbu sltFci WAS SUED
again.
1t was DR.. Armstrong ! opinion that this case
must follow the iatc o.! all cases CT the kind.
Death would be the result Of it, and all that
medicine could DO was TO relieve, somewhat.
| the horrible suffcrngs rt the vlc!lm and the
| work Of those upon whom was imposed
the sad srd arduous task OF watching
| and holding him. Since the attack Of friday
morning Wctmorc had been able once or twice.
| co speak Of having been bitten by dog. But
! be appeared to have ia his mind only the old
| bite OF ten or twelve years ago, and showed q
disposition to conceal the facts about the bites
| of last summer, although they were vel! known
| to his friends. At times Thcn, in his flights,
he could command himself enough to collect .
| few words he would ask. with Au awful horror
| in his voice and eyes, You don't think it s
| that, do you ?" and 81. cant be that. cap
lit?" And the answer would be, 'Oh. no; 1t
cant be that" When our reporter was at the
| house at two clock, Sunda" morning, Wet
more was 10 one OF his most terrible spasms.
| Men where holding him down, although he
was bound. His grOans were terrible; they re.
semblcd the loud gTowIl OF dog at times, and
he was irothiGg c0piousIy IL the mouth and
gnaahing his teeth. An irjectlrn quoted hm
for time. The parozysms scuu returned,
however He pr0aned and moaOed and gnaSh-
| ed his teeth. Often his rr0ans took the form
of barking and howiing, and the !ro!hlog was
| fearful These we're 50 terrible as to produce
| the linal exhaustion His skin was observed
to turn coppr"ish hue ard with this came
heat and an offensive oiog Then he grew
weaker and weaker ike person dying oil long
and cxhausling d-eaS,, nDllI ball:past live
oc!ock, when he iinaIly brcathcd his last.
| Notwithstanding the large doses Of norphia
| that had been used upon him and which would
| ordinarily have II tcud"ucy To contract, the pu-
pills of the eyes were very much dllatcd. Inc
corpse had the appearance, 10 the face, OF
person cmaciatcd by long disease, hut the lea.
| lures were calm and composed, as It the end
| had been painless CmcthnaN Conmerctat
| OPENING AND CLOSING Or MAlLs.-Untll
further notice tho following will bo the hours
for the opening and closing Of tho mails:
| OPENING.
Northern mails 8:45 u. H. and 200 =. n.
Western mails, S:45 q. n. and 100 p. ~
South western, Wis LynchburS and Gordons-
vile, 100 p. IL. ,,.,, 49,,
Washington and Ohio. Round Bill TO Alex
andrs, $3.50 p. H.