The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-08
Mr.. Bergh'S Opportunity to Become a
Hero or Martyr.
THE TEST OF HyDRoPAoBlA.
How the Canine Race May Be
Protected from Slaughter.

and striking wager The writer OF the letter, who Is
eminent ply sIcan OF this city, offered 10 deposit
81 900 with the HERALD go Mr. Berghs society, "
Mr. Bergn would allow himself TO be noculated with the
saliva Of rabid dog and escaped hydrophoba within
six months after such incubation. II expected
by many people who know Mr. Berghs enthusiasm in
behalf or canine and his xety to dispe the
popular prejudice existing against It on account of
this fancied existence OF hydrophoba that the oner
would be quickly accepted by him, moro especially
The money. in case Mr.. Bergh demonstrated tho
non-exstence OF hydrophoba, and thus protected the
poor dog from further persecution, was to revert
10 the Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to AMI
mails Day alter day these people eagerly glanced at
the HERALD to read Mr.. Bergh's bold acceptance OF
the challenge, and finally, 10 aay popular anxiety
the subject the writer scnt to Mr.. Bcrgh to
certain whether this ordinarily courageous gentle
man really meat TO take up the glove SO deGantly
thrown At his ieet.
INTERVIEW WITH BERoH.
"oh, regard the offer as mere joks,n Mr. Bergh
replied relaxing his stern features into a smile, sand
DO not intend take any notice OF itn
'sBut the offer was seriously meant. It emanated
from a prominent physician OF this city,
swell, If that is the case' Mr.. Bergh replod,
with dignity .tncn say that 1t was in very bad
taste Tor he could not have thought that for $1,000
would allow myself TO be inocuiated with The saliva
up for money as thatl
"You consider the offer to have bsen maae in an
improper spiritY'
~ think 1t 10 very offensive IT. you say It 10 not
ajoke. II this physician had had to deal with any
common biackguart perhaps there might be some
Justification for It, but make It to me-to gentle
mani consider an outrage"
NV ould the experiments DO fair tost OF the cxist-
cnce OF hydrophoba, Mr.. Bergh2"
W.
dsmned criminals have been promised pardon II
they would sleep the bed in which man had died
Of cholera or scarlet fever, and that through moro
nervous excitement they died from the disease,
although. matter OF fact, such nan had slept
In the bed"
Mr.. Bsrgh courteously excused himself, as It was
time for him TO dine and reiterating his faith In
Tho complete taacy Of the popular notion Of hydro
phoba, the Interview with him tcrminated.
THE AUTHOR rHK PROPOSITION
The writer then called upon the physician, who
solemniy reiterated his keen desire to mako tho
pertinent upon Mr. Bergn. He declined
present 90 allow his name ~ be made public modestiy
some unchartabis members Of the profession as pur
suit oil notoriesy. "You may state, however" said
aud that as soon IS MI Berrh has accepted INV oisr
" shall be made known to him through she editor Of
the HERALD" II may be added that the high stand
Ing oil this physician affords ample guarantee OF his
good faith in the matter.
II adhere 10 my original proposition" earnestly
his residence when the reporter called upon HIM.
with M Bergh's consent propose inocuIate him
dog and procure the saliva l know VIII be
dangerous experiment. l might be bitten myself,
SIDES according TO MI. Bergh's notion, he runs no
risk 1T ALL"
.B1t Doctor, would 1t be- right TO subject so good
man as Mr. Bergh TO all the pain tho operation would
DOUBTLESS infiictr"
.You may assure him !" was tho solemn and prompt
response, that Will perform upon him painless
operation, which will give him no bodily suffering.
WI pu. HIM uIder ether, or, u no prefers. even
sensibiity whatever"
..would II not DO regarded Joke at Mr.. Bergh's
'.liy dear ar the physician returned 1.-THE solcm-
ntics with winch shall surround the operation Will
sufficiently dispel any such suspicion l shall mako
II great event tor the world Of science shall in
vne all the distinguished cilixens Of New York
Mayor Ely President Barnard, OF Columbia College,
anh other representatives OF science and art, to be
present NJ the ceremony"
'And do you really bolievc that it would acco M
pisn some goodY"
In his intense earnestness the physician became
almost Indignant :-.wny, nothing but good
OF II from Mr.. Bergh's showing. Think II It
should demonstrate that the whole medical profession
has been IN error all those years aud that there
such thing as nydrophoDial Think OF Mr.. Bsrgh's
triumph when he has finally saved all that precious
every summer over = false alarm OF by drophobial
Nothing but good can come Of hl Upon Mr. Bsrgh's
10 no such disease and there beng thus danger,
In his opinion, why not take tho 81 900 for his soc
'.But upon your own showing, would It no, DO a
dangerous operation, DoctorY,
less experiment Tor Mr Bersh because cases oi hydro
pbVbia have occurred alter lapse OF months
Now, II the disease should six months he
will nave had bis money and his hydropnobin BOTH
REvEsGiSG the MEDICAL PROFESSION
"Do you regard me present time as favorable one
With some vshemenco tho physician replied -
'sr, s time that this question Of the existencs
OF hydrophob:a should DO settled. Mr. Bergh has
systematically derded medical profession, neid II
up to puoIic scorn aud stgmatzed doctors frauds
aud aarmists on the subject oil hydrophobia
OF actuatod by the desire TO make professional
capital out Of the fears Of their fellow citizons.'
but why not operate upon dog. Doctor9 Mr..
Bcigh's lilo IL regarded as rather precious by tho
community"
section, and because would do such violence to
his feelings as to experiment upon animal incapa-
blc Of giving his consent to une operation. (Horo
the physician, for some unaccouutablc reason. gave
. ely arinD Aud, then, i DO not know any other
man who would consent or should take him; 4
Mr. Befgh will nnd me substitute will be content.''
doctor, Is the amount not somewhat small Tor an
operation OF SUCH magnitude 7"
'No, sir. not according to the view OF Mr.. Bcrgh,
because, according to that no runs no risk latter
some delbera,ionJ However, II no paacs his refusal
upon that ground will say that am wlbng to In
crease the amount considerable -considera
Will you put up me money In greenoacks or in
II viii put II up in any circulating medium Mr.
Bergh may choose TO designate noid II he likes"
A oESgaoUs orpER.
"And II he becomes III will you treat him, Doctors
81 Will treat HIN not only IN the interest OF this
particular case but OF science and humanity at large"
s.And your charges. Doctorf',
IL will treat him gratis, and 1 am sure the
whole medical profession whom he has SO often
wrongod Will be nj MT Bergh's command At
tho Same limo candor compeis Inc 20 say that no
case of hydrophobia has been cured, although
therapeutlcal pi omisc OF Turkish Datn good
Sometimes a rabid dog may bite person. aud either
he has previously bitten somebody because
the virus arrested by tho clothing The may be
saved To make the experiment complete, 4 shall
take the best OF care that tho dog snail not ditto
Mr. Borgh through his trousers that no shall not
previously bite me-"
he physician was now informed OF what Mr.
Bergh SAID In reference 10 the Infection
OF cholera scarlet lever. lie replied that 10 was
true Of cholera, because people took cholera from
fright, but not OF scarlet fever.
''Mr Borgh's logic IL against him. said he, "bo-
Cause as no does not believe IN nydrophobia, he
would not DO liable TO the nervous Injection. IL
didn't believe IN bydrophobia would have
jeclion TO be inoculatcd myself BESIDES, this ex-
pertinent IL due to tho canine race. IL would only
restore the balance OF things, because DR. Eckol OF