Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-13
CABOTrS CAT.
It's Bite Drives Him CraZy.--An 4p.
parent Case of HydrOphobia.

II Due Drives Hill STdZls..An AEa
parent Case of Hydrophobia.
Springfield Republican.
The northeastern corner of Hamp-
shire county is much exercised over the
sickness of Elbridge E. Cabot, one of
Enfield's selectmen and best citizens,
the result of a cat-bite on the thumb.
received Sept. 20. Mr. Cabot's sickness
is accompanied by the most violent at
tacks of insanity, and is likely to prove
fatal The disease has some of the
symptoms of hydrophobia, but whether
it is the genuine article or an "acute
MANIA" resulting from morbid dwell
ling on the subject of hydrophobia, the
doctors who have watched the case de-
cline to say.
The cat that bit Mr. Cabot had been
a family pet for a long time, and there
is no direct proof that she was ever
bitten by a mad dog, or showed any
of the usual symptoms of hydrophobia
She bounced down on him from her
perch on a bar-post one morning as he
was going to the barn, and bit him on
the thumb, which was taken into the
animals! mouth up to the first Joint
He shook her off without difficulty, and
went about his work with little thought
Of the occurrence. A day or two later,
a 5-year-old boy named Thayer, ward
of Mr.. Cabot's, was playing in the field
some distance from the house. when
the same cat seized him by the hand.
The lad also threw her off, but she i'm
firmly that he couldn't free himself
His cries were heard by neighbor a
quarter of a mile off, who, when he
reached the spot, was unable to pull the
cat off, and had to kill her in order to
detach her from the boy The boy is
too young to suspect any danger, but
he has begun to complain within few
days of pains which run up the leg that
was bitten, and then down the arm on
that side of his body. The attack
of the cat on him was generally noised
abroad, but Mr.. Cabot kept his own bite
a secret for some time. For eight weeks
his outward life was as usual, but those
who knew him best could see that he
beginning of the present week he be-
gan to feel i'll, and on Wednesday after
noon consulted DR.. Thomas, of Belcher-
town, at first carefully avoiding any in
timation that he thought hydrophobia
might be the trouble, supposing that
the DR.. hadn't heard of his case. The
physician, however, was posted on the
cat-biting accident although he didn't
care to admit it. Finally Mr. Cabot
asked the doctor if he discovered any
symptoms of hydrophobia, and the
physician anwered no, but that some
thing was making Mr.. Cabot very ner-
vous and he must tell him what it was.
Choral was prescribed. and it kept Mr..
Cabot quiet for twenty-four hours. till
Tuesday evening which is the only
medicine yet given the sick man. Dur
ing the day on Thursday Mr.. Cabot's
symptoms, although indicating the
possibility of hydrophobia, were not
especially pronounced, although he
could neither eat nor drink.
Late on Thursday evening, when the
effect Of the medicine had subsidized and
Mr.. Cabot was surrounded by number
of neighbors, the patient began to rave.
He first struck unsuccessfully for Dr.
Thompson, who sat in front Of him on
the bed, and then began pounding Dr.
ToWne and another man who were back
of him, rushed through one of the
back windows of the house, taking
most of it with him. Once in the yard,
he tried to let loose the doctors horse,
but, finding the owner there before him,
he threw one lantern at the horses
head and the other at the head of a
man who was trying to approach him.
A scrimniage followed, in which nobody
was especially hurt, after which Cabot
ran into the house and locked all the
doors. A party. ensued among the out
siders, and a messenger was sent to the
village for reinforcements. Then three
men were detailed to work at the back
door and as many at the front, and
both were forced, the six men rushing
IN as nearly together as possible. They
were provided with blanket to throw
over the patients head, so that he
might not bite, and they finally sue
ceeded in binding him on the bed with
cords Meanwhile he was crying out
that they might kill him. which he said
was what they were trying to do. After
ward, when the doctor remarked to
him that they were sorry to be COM
PEELED to bind him. he replied, "No
apology is necessary, Mr.. Cabot
came out of his frenzy before light yes
terday, and was quiet during the entire
day. The doctor pronounced him
wholly rational at noon, and in the af-
ternoon he made his Will. The cords
were removed and handouts placed on
his wrists, his ankles being confined
with straps. The doctor had to argue
with him little to get him to accept
the handouts, but he finally did it will
lingly. At last accounts the patient
was comfortable, although he had taken
nothing to eat or drink. He persists,
however, IN saying that he shall die a
terrible death in day or two, when
the neighbors will see something they
never saw before, and implores
sufficient number of them to stay with
him to manage him so that he won't
hurt anybody.
DENVER claims to have A Caesar in