River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-08
HHDROPHOBIA.

De,tfh Of n Little Boy IA ToFkriHe, ". =
Horrible 4GOny eT the Little Sufferer.
The n. Y. Times of the 3rd says the
inhabitants of Yorkvillf were thrown into a
high state of excitement to-day by the death
of John Clark, boy 6 years of age, WHO had
been suffering since Tuesday last from an
attack OF hydrophoba. On July last
Johnny was playing with a fine large shep.
herd dog, favorite with all the children.
III shutting a window in play, one of the
dogs feet was hurt, and the animal, whirled
around and seized the boys cheek with h's
,eath. The cheek was fearfully maneled,
There were eight lareerated wounds, two of
,rhich extended through the cheek and were
large enough to permit mans little finger
i, he passed through with ease. The wounds
Md profusely. In treatment the larceiated
aeah was burned and blackehed by a
thorough application of the solid stick OF
citrate of silver. After the wounds had
hoen dressed the boy was taken
home. He appeared TO be greatly
agitated all the time, and talked
;ncessently of dogs and biting people. As
,;n,a rasssd on, and no serious il ,mmatory
action supervened, the boys mind began TO
recover III, equilibrium. Nevertheless, he is
said not to have slept soundly after the day
IN ;vhich he was bitten. His sleep was bro
kris by terrible dreams, and he often awoke
dnripg the night with cry of anguish and
fright. The dog was killed, though ne shows
al 10 SIGNS of rabies. The boys wounds
seemed 70 he healing rapidly, and 1t was be-
lieyed nothing would come OF the bite. But
Tuesday night Johndy awoke with a loud
CRY that awoke his mother. He said he felt
very thirsty. but when glass of ice.water
was offered him be refused TO drink. He re-
manned nervous and unt asy all the rest of
that night. Sometimes he would beg for a
drink If water. When it was brought lie
would say he could not drink it, Next
morning Johnny did not seem any
hotter. He was unable to swallow tea or cot
fee. Attempts were made TO feed him
with spoon, but he spit ont the fluid and
declared he could not take it. Then the
family began to believe he had hydrophobia,
To test this they tried various devices TO in
duce him TO swallow something. Johnny
persistently refused to swallow anything, and
their efforts rapidly induceI spasms. We'd
nesdav and Thursday powerful anti-spas-
modiea we're gwen under the skin The
saliva collected in the boy S mouth in large
Quantities and as he was unable to swallow
he spit it out continually. Friday, DIR,
Thomas saw the boy in consultation with
Dr. Srrague. He found him in condition
somewhat similar TO that of a person suffer
ing from delirium tremens. He was contin-
ual Y picking at his clothing with his fingers.
His limbs were tossed hither ana thither
He was given handful of rags, which he
delighted 10 bite, setting his teeth into
them with vicious snap. Once when he
saw that this frightened one of the
women in attendance he exclaimed, Don't
he afraid, / won't bite you" To-day Dr.
Sprague, finding other remedies had little
or 1is, effect determined to administer chlor-
oforu with the view of subduing the evil
dent suffering the dying boy was enduring,
The eh4oroform hal its aneesthetic effect,
and tho parents were spared the sight of his
death amid the awful agony usual in cases
of hydrophobia. Johnny died about 3o'clock.
The opinion of the attending physicians was
that tbs was an unooubted case of true hy-
dropIobia. During the muttering delirium,
when engaged, in picking at the clothes, If
addressed sharply, the boy would rouse mp
and reply Nevertheless, he would lapse at
once into his previous condition, and the
same effort had to he repeated to rouse him.
The shock was believed to have been an i'm
portent tact5r or the disease.