St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-02-01
Terrible Deaths from Hydrophobia.

Hydrophobia has seemed almost an
epidemic in Massachusetts and Con-
necticut the past few months. The
following facts are all found i'll last Fri
days papers:
| Charles H. Adams, of the firm of C..
| H. Adams & Co., produce commission
agents on North Market street, Boston,
died at the general hospital Thursday
night, of hydrophObia. He had been
ill since Monday, and on Wednesday
was taken to the hospital.
A MANS LIFE FOR A DOG.
From Springfield Republican, 25th.I
Ashbel Bucklamd of ChicOpee, who
was bitten by vagrant dog November
25th, is dead of hydrOphObia. His mind
was clear until few moments before
his death, when he said to his friends
that he ''wOuld show them how Il Chris
tian could die" His Ouly regret at the
approach of death, as expressed to his
physician, was that sit seemed hard
that strong, well man should have to
go for a dog"
The hot vapOr was tried in this case
and discontinued, because the moisture
caused commissions, and the sick man
entreated his friends to stop it. The
vapor was not let directly upon his
person, but came from another room.
The noise of boiling water, the use of
the words "water, drinking, or dog"
caused severe commissions. Morphine
in large doses injected under the skin
proved of no value, and, as he could
swallow no liquid, medicine i'll that form
was not tried. During Wednesday Mr..
Buckland became more quiet, but in
the evening his throat and mouth filled
| with trOthy mucous, so as to cause
choking and efforts at vomiting for re-
lief From this his strength failed
rapidly till death came, apparently from
exhaustion, the man being worn out
with want of rest, sleep, and almost
constant motion. The efforts to clear
his throat were followed by great pros
tratiOn, and cOnvulsive movements also
became more frequent during the last
hours of life. During the day he was
seen by DrS. Carpenter and BlOdgett of
Holyoke, Bartlett and Chapman of
Chicopee, Smith of Indian Orchard, and
Thompson of BelchertOwn. These ply
sicians, without exception, pronounced
the case one of unquestiOnable hydro
phObia, and concur with DR.. Smith in
the opinion that the treatment 10y curara
offered the best hope of any remedy.
The family, attendants, aud all who
watched the progress of the disease are
convinced that the effects Of this drug
were most favorable, keeping the pa
tient more quiet, and relieving the
disease of many of its terrors. DR..
Smith injected the drug under the skin
every hour and oftener, giving at each
injection from one-fOurth to one-third
grain, giving during the day upwards
of seven grains, sufficient, he thinks, to
thoroughly test its value. Mr.. Buck
land expressed frequently his belief that
the medicine was doing him great good,
urged the doctor to use it very freely,
without fear, saying: 81 can only die
| must die without this; it helps me
feel that it may effect cure from the
relief it gives to these spasms." This
testimony, sustained by all the friends
who saw the sick man, enabled the
doctor to fully test the drug. 1t was
, certainly used with nerve and courage
sufficient to prove the full service of the
medicine. The doctor thinks his ex-
, perience in this case teaches him that
: the cure for hydophobia is not yet dis
covered, but that the use of curara has
been followed by such great relief in
this case, that he should certainly rec
ommend its use in another case, if adj
ministered by an intelligent physician
e who could be on the ground constantly
to carefully watch its effects. The re-
lief in this case was certainly very great
and the remedy was followed by nc
paralysis or unfavorable symptom trace
J. able to the drug. 1t requires nerve to
D inject into a mans blood every hour OF
o so dose doubly sufficient to cause
0 paralysis and almost instant death in 6
well man. The fortitude and restraint
3 manifested by Mr.. auckland astonishe(
U all who saw him. The disease caused
r intense agony to himself and friends
h and in his death tue world has lost .
IS good and valuable man.