Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-05-11
PREVENTING HYDRoPHoBIA.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

to EtecdmPoae many years since as
preventive of hydrophoba. The active
medical principle of this plant is found
in the root, and is called iautin From
my experience, believe this inulin neu-
tralizes the virus, or poison, of hydro
phobia. Allow me to give few instan-
ces where this remedy has been used
My own nephew, then a small boy,
was bitten badly in the face by a dog I'M
mstakably mad This occurred within
a few miles of this city The father Of
the lad came Immediately to town to
obtain medical advice. We called on an
eminent physician (now deccased) who at
once prescribed the plant named The
root was obtained and administered as
hereinafter directed No symptom of
hydrophobia appeared, and the lad, now
hale, hearty farmer in Montgomery
county, lives to show the scar of the
wound i'll his face,
The physician above referred to re-
lated to me a number Of instances in
which the remedy had been used, and
always with success lie in fact, made the
| ibuidihb htNCi hutW ~ w ihli WHICH
properly administered will give but
two cases. First. Two men living
near this city were bitten in the hand by
the same dog, and within fifteen minutes
of each other. The dog, stranger to
them, was secured and imprisoned TO
await an order. The next day he showed
unmistakeabe signs of madncss, and
finally died of hydrophobia. Alarmed
for their safety, both men came to the
city and waited on the physician above
quoted. He prescribed elecampanc root.
One of the men remarked, "that is an
old womans remedy" and refused to
take it, This man returning home placed
himself under the care of his own doctor,
who cauterizcd the wound and admins
tered medicine 20 salivate him. On the
ninth day he was seized with spasms and
died in agony. The other and more for
tunate man took the elecampane as pre-
scribed and never suffered in the least
degree from the dreaded disease.
Second. A number of cows feeding in
pasture we're all bitten by mad dog.
The circumstance coming to the knowl-
edge of those who had heard Of this ele-
campane remedy, thought it a good OPP
portunity to give it trial. The cows
were accordingly separated-to one half
the number the root was administered
Gin form Of decoction, and not one of
the COWS suffered from hydrophobia -
whilst all of those not so treated took the
malady and died from its effects or were
shot. In quite a number of cases COM
ing under my own observation of per-
sons bitten by dogs supposed to be mad,
| have recommended the use of tho ele-
campane, aud have yet to learn of the
first case of hydropbobia resulting from
such bite where the root was used |
think, therefore, have good reason to
have confidence in tho remedy as p pre-
UentiUe.
Whether after any manifestation Of the
disease, it would have a good effect or
any effect at all, am unable to say,
doubt whether it would. But the anti
dote isso simple, and SO readily obtained
that il would be almost criminal not TO
employ it, Having said this much,
allow me to give tho mode of using the
remedy. To one and half ounce Of
good, sound elecampane root, bruised in
a mortar, add one pint Of new milk, boil
to half pint, strain of, aud when cold
take at dose in the morning. fasting.
No food should be taken for from three
TO five hours afterwards Repeat the
dose on the third morning, allowing one
morning to intervene, and again on the
fifth morning. Tho above quantity is
for adults, for children given in proper
Tomato doses, say to one of IL years,
half the quantity. X. |.
The foregoing letter is from the expe-
rienced head Of wholesale drug house,
and is therefore entitled to special con-
sideration It's published for the gener-
al good, for it must certainly have salu-
tary effect for people to know that so
simple preventive remedy is available.
At tie same time it is deemed proper to
express the strong belief that in many
Of the instances in which hydrophobic
symptoms are exhibited the symptoms
mot the disease) are induced by excited
Imagination aud apprehension. Consid-
ering tbs large number ofcases Of injury
/ by bites from dogs that occur every year,
and the very small number ~ well au-
thenticated ca.es Of bydrophabia, d even
Of reported hydrophobia, persons who
have the misfortune to get bitten may
well afford to keep their minds at rest
about the matter. Not less than score
Of the carriers Of the LEDGER have been
bitten by dogs, we regret to say, and
some Of them several times, but they,
having no apprehension of hydropbobia.
have mover developed the symptoms Of
that disease. II is well, nevertheless, to
have the olccampane remedy at hand
Ed. LEDGER.