The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-12
HYDROpHOBTl.
Nature Of the Ma,ady -Cnses In which the
Turkish hath has Proved Emcicnt.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUNo-Sir 1t Is n
hopeful sign to see so much written about the
proper treatment OF hydrOphUba. rvssibly
great good may he evolved thercfrom. The
simplest IL not tho most logical theory OF tho
disease, Ia that 1t is n blood poison. character
ized. among other symptoms. 10y violent spasms
in tho throat. We have no evidence OF any
of the human family being attacked 10y the dis-
ease. except through nnoculation. Heretofore.
much OF the medical treatment has been OF
but little vail in this terrible disease. though
DIR. Hermance OF Brooklyn has been reported
az curing an advanced case but short time
ago by means Of the vapor bath. About forty
years ago the case Of DR.. Buisson. in France.
attracted considerable notice. and has been fro
auently referred to by those who have devoted
their attention TO the specific treatment of this
disease. Therein he claims TO have cured him
self by means of the vapor bath alone and this
after spasms lad begun. ,
Reasoning from that cnse and believing that
the Turkish bath is Il much more powerful
eliminator Of blood poison, in June. 1874. un;
Prospect Park who had been bitten by rabid
dog. Tho admin istraton of the Turkish bath
was begun on the third day after he was bitten
anu continued vigorously over three weeks
HIS wound had been rauterlzcd, and he cOntin-
ued under the care OF his physician. who after
ward stated that the Turk sh bath was chiefly
instrumental in cffccting the cure. The man has
been hard ut work ever since.
A similar ease, with more positive attending
circumstances, IL furnshedh 10y DIR. Cameron OF
Wilmington. Dol. showing the efficacy OF tho
Turkish bath ns n detergent. In April. 1862
three little girls in his vicinity were bitten by "A
rnbid dog, and were hv him taken to Philadel-
phia, and under his direction were treated 10y
the Turkish bath daily for two weeks. Several
animals were bitten by the same dog on the
same day and all o. them died of hydrophobia
In four or Ave weeks thereafter while the
T So y nTye 19 ss hy TRpq6r@y suffered
Here We have at least three well authenticated
cases which seem 10 prove that the turkish
bath II an effective antidote for the hydro
phobic poison and this IL precisely what the
For from what We know OF the natural iune-
tons Of the body. what can be more reasonable
than that II we have the system poisoned In any
way. the quickest mode of relief In 10y purging
not interfere with any OF naturcs functions. but
simply increase the elimnative acton OF the
sk IN, whereas III we attempt medication through
the stomach We are liable to seriously inter-
fere with one or more OF the bodily functions
The poison Of malaria has in multitude oil
cas- 8 been thrown OF in this way.
Certainly this matter Is worthy OF examinh-
more widely known. and the public mind re-
leved of that apprehenslve dread which is 50
common in such cases. -
My prescription then would be. that rs soon as
possible after n person has been bitten the
wound should lbs cleaned thoroughly. most
Ompletc way Is Ia have Il sucked though eA-
treme care should be- used in rclecting the In
fptei sputsl: then the wound should be THOR
oughly cluterized. after which, for the space OF
three weeks. the patient should be treat"dt 70 one
or two sweating baths daily. The Turk sh bath
Is the most simple and effective, aud where ac-
crs-ibe the very best. but II out oi reach even
CHAs. II. SHEPARD, NJ H.,
81 and SO Columbia Heights. Brooklyn.