Connecticut western news., 1878-11-06
WAS IT HYDROPHOBIA? :?
A LONG BRANCH YOUTH WITH NEARLY ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE MA1ADY- BITING AND BARKING LIKE DOG. BUT HAVING NO AVERSION TO WATER.

ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE MALADY-
 BITING AND BARKING LIKE DOG, BUT
 HAVING NO AVERSION TO WATER.
 A case which is causing much excite ment at Long Branch is that of a youth named James Conk, eighteen years old, who two years ago last summer was bit ten by large dog. A reporter visited young Conk at his home, and obtained the following particulars :-
 In the summer of 1876 James, then a robust boy of sixteen, was working for Mir. John Britton in the upper village of Long Branch. Britton had a large dog of a breed between bloodhound and Newfoundland, which, on account of It's savage propensltles, young Conk stu diously avoided. One day, in the latter part of July, Conk was cleaning off his employers wagon, when the dog sprang upon him from behind. Conk turned around to grapple or run away from his ferocious foe, whereupon the brute made another spring at him, his teeth sinking into and tearing away large piece of the right side of the upper lip. Young Conk went home and had his lip, which hung by Q shred of flesh, sewed up, and In few weeks was about attending to his business again. The dog was not shot, and Conk felt no further concern about the matter until short time ago, when he learned that the dog had bitten a little daughter of Tenbrook Morris. He then expressed an intention to kill the dog himself, but never carried out his determination.
 Everything went we'll with the youth until the night of the 18th uIt., when he began to act strangely. He told his sister-ln-law, Mrs. John Conk, that some one wanted to take him away. During the night he became delirious, and re- malned so for several days. The spells then grew lighter, and he seemed to be getting better until Tuesday night of last week, when he became very violent. He tore the sheets and bed clothing to shreds, and it took the combined efforts of MT. and Mrs. Conk and the youths elder brother to keep him in bed. Toward Wednesday morning the spells became more violent, sometimes lasting for two and three hours. Help was summoned from the neighboring dwell ings and ill the severest fits it took six men to keep him down on the sofa. At last it was evident that he would kill himself in the struggle and bite those who held him, so it was deemed best to place him on the floor.
 The first knowledge his attendant had of another spell would be by the youth | getting down on his knees and hands. He would then begin to snarl and bark like dog and jump about the room on | all fours. Sometimes he would gather 1 together all the ornaments on the mantlepiece and lie on the floor, placing them near him. He seemed then to doze, keeping his eye on the articles, and when anyone in the room strided or spoke he would lift his head, show his teeth, stick out his tongue and growl like dog. At other times he would catch flies and eat them.
 On Thursday night he seemed to be getting over the worse spells, and sev- eral of the youths companions came in to sit up with him. During the night colored boy who lived near came in to inquire after him. Scarcely had he en- tered the door of Conk's room, however, when the latter sprang with a growl from his bed toward the intruder, but before he could reach him one of the young gentlemen caught him by both arms and plnloned him. The young man, with the assistance of others, then forced Conk back on his bed While this was being done Conk caught the young man by the arm with his teeth and held on until forced to let go. Fortunately for Conk's companion, he had on heavy Jacket, and only the marks of the infuriated youths teeth were left on his arm. When in bed he lifted heavy rocking chair which was standing near by with his teeth and hurled it across the room. This was the severest spell he had, and lasted for two hours. During it he hattened large leaden bullet with his teeth and then swallowed part of it, worrying oyer 1t as 8 canine would over bone.
 From that time the spells decreased in violence, changing from hydrophobia- like fits to crazy ones. During all of them he had no aversion to water, but did not drink any. After each fit he would call for food and eat to excess. The only person he seemed to have no desire to bite was his sister-in law
 On Friday night, Conk, who heretofore never seemed of @ religious turn of mind, after coming out of fit told his sister-in-law that he had seen visions of God and heaven that he had seen the spirit of his father, who told him that he would have just so many spells and then would get well. He also told how long each spell would last. All these seeming prophecies were fulfilled. He then expressed a desire that the dog which bit him should be shot, and also that MT. Wilson, the Methodist clergy man, should be sent for. The clergyman came, the young man was converted and then began to get better.
 When Conk heard that the dog which had bitten him had been shot he seemed -.o1:o--o1 o ,,,.. -l,a