The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-21
Death from Hy,Irophobia,

AsHBEL AUCKLAND, of Chicopee, who
was bitten by a vagrant dog Nov. 25,
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 q Christian
could die" His only regret at the
approach of death, as expressed to his
physician, was that cit seemed hard
that a strong, well man should have to
go for dog
The hot vapor was tried in this case
and discontinued, because the moisture
caused convulsions, 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
in that form was not tried. During
Wednesday Mr.. auckland became more
quiet, but in the evening his throat and
mouth filled with frothy mucus, so as
to cause choking and efforts at vom-
iting for relief. From this his strength
failed rapidly till death came, appar-
emily 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 prostration, and convulsive move
ments also became more frequent dur
ing 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 In
dian Orchard. and Thompson, of Bel
chertown. These physicians, without
exception, pronounced the case one of
unquestionable hydrophobia, and con-
cur with DIR. Smith in the opinion that
the treatment by curara offered the best
hope of any remedy. The family, at
PENDANTS, and all who watched the prog
ress of the disease are convinced that
the effects of this drug were most
favorable, keeping the patient 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 upward of seven grains.
sufficient, he thinks. to thoroughly test
its value. Mr.. Buckland expressed fire.
quently his belief that the medicine was
doing him great good, urging the doc
tor to use it very freely, without fear,
saying: Il can only die; l must die
without this; it helps me; l feel that it
may effect a cure from the relief it
gives to these spasms." This testi-
mony. 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 medi-
cine. The doctor thinks his experience
in this case teaches him that the cure
for hydrophobi:l is not yet discovered,
but that the use of curara has been fol
lowed by such great relief in this case.
that he should certainly recommend its
use in another case. if administered by
an intelligent physician, who could be
watch its effects. The relief in this
case was certainly very great, and the
remedy was followed by no paralysis or
unfavorablc symptom traceable to the
drug. 1t requires nerve to inject into a
mans blood every hour or so dose
doubly sufficient to cause paralysis and
almost instant death in well man.
The fortitude and restraint manifested
by Mr.. auckland astonished all who
saw him. The disease caused intense
agony to himself and friends, and in
his death the world has lost a good and
valuable man.-Springfeld Mass. J
| Republican.