The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-21
HYDROPHOBIA.

DISCUSSION OVER LICHARD scHwEITzEHs ILL
NEss-MR. BERoH AND Du. HAMMOND.
In view OF the careful history Of o. Richard
schwei,zcr Of Melrosc, made BY DR.. Kretschmsr, and
published in the HERALD OF rYday last and in view
Of the physicians positive declaration that tho case
was one OF hydrophobia, considerable surprise was
occasioneu by the result OF the postmortem examn
tion. DR.. MacWhinnie, who mads this examination,
declared that the Immediate cause Of the Death was
not hyarophoDia, but asphyxia, and tho opinion Of
Mr.. Henry Bersh ana that Of DR.. William A. Hammond
was asked Tor yesterday the bearing Of Scnweit-
zcrs on the much vexed question: Of hydro
phobia
AUTOPSY.
lu The post norton examination q small abrinous
olot was found in that indicated that
death due 10 protracted causes, not 10 sudden
violence. Bits OF the egg eaten BY the boy shortly
before his death were found IN the right prom
chus ana in the right lung. Dr. Mcwninnie, there
fore, declared that death caused by ssphyxia
caused by the mpaction pieces OF egg 10 his lung
and bronchus.
Mr.. Bcrgh, being asked, said that he was nrm IN his
disbelief In the existence OF such disease rs hydro.
uhobis. no made . distinction between mad dog
ana hydrophobtc one. He said no was rtquently
mad himself, Dut II BY no means followed that NE had
the hydrophobiA So q dog might be maodened by
i'll treatment. He might be worried into madness,
but he was not necessarily hydropbobc. He thought
the principal trouble ID the dog question came
from It's treatmcnt by politicians, who were not
CON potent 10 deal with IL. He had offered years
TO III mage the whole matter II tho Guy would only
provide o mouse aud keeper. the soo,ety Tor The
Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals would send mon
arounu daily and "scoop up'' stray dogs without
charging the city Tor tae service. -
"rnen do you believe IN killing these dogsfV he
asked
Il must CONFESS" said Mr.. Bergh, "ihat the IN
fortunate animals would De better OIL dead than alive
nfNt rluht n
alarming the community But ! DO OBJECT 10 tue
srealmc they receive now.'
"that the bite Of y doa maddencd ny worry or other
means ~ more dangerous tnaa tnas OF DOG anin-
nuencsd 10 ihaL way 7"
aWhy oertainiy Il 49, said Mr. Bsrgh, and. he told
q story Of woman sucking child WINE sns was Ia
H. OF rage ana OF the consequsns death Of the child
DIR. HAMMoxDs vlEw..
Dr.. William A. Hammond. on the otner hand, de-
clared, after reading DIR. Krelscnmar's history VI
Rcharl Scnwezers and tho account OF the post
,uortcm OK animation, That is was unq uestioaapy
case OF hyarophobi&
u lhoux ht II was not genuine hydrophoU.a,n said
he, 1.wnen 1 read the hrst accounts, because they
spoke OF the child barking ike u dog In pseudo ny
qrophoDia, which Is = Gyssvricai disease. superio-
not genuine NJ dropnoUa Az 10 the enid dying by
cnokng, Lne choking WAS u symptom Of tue hyaro-
phooa. Dr. Kretscnmar's history OF the Case Is AN
excellent one ANA leaves no douot as 20 ss nature
One Ut the strongest proofs Of IT 10 the ABNORMAL
temperature. In the real hydrophooia tae tempsrA-
ture always high, rxngiug from I05 " ll0. In tho
false disease u Is never raissd but always remains
normal"
az would be 10 favor Of leaving she whole question
OF handling the dogs 10 Mr.. Bsrgns socisty.n said
he, reply 10 further questions; sor ~ has done
deal Of good, and would Internationally deal with The
dogs in the way; but Mr.. Bergh IL dong great
mischief ny promugating his disbelief IN hydro
pnoba iu spite OF fact that all the authorities
assert It's existence. 1t was formerly denied tnat
thefe such disease, but no authority dsnies ~
now. Ana just so sr as people are leu by Mr. Bergh
TO dlsbecve in the disease Just SO far will they 10
inclined 10 neglect the proper measures OF precaution
when they are bitten.'
sit Is serious TACT he said further, "thss NO one
has nvcd alter hydroph0bta has been developed
In his system There Is for the disease
though Il may be prevented by prompt measures
taken alter the bite has been Inflicted Excision 10
probably the best OF all prOpiyIascs, and should DO
PERFORMED soon rs possible. The operation should
mot DO done with nggardy hand, out every part with
winch the teeth OF the animal have come Ia contact
should ne removed as well A. the tissue into which
the poison may have become inhltrateu. Cautef, Ia
tion may be per,ormed instead OF excsion, ana Is
preferred Dy some practitioners. MI Y0uatt, oil Fog
iand used with over -FOUR hundred persons bitten by
rabid ANIMALS, AID never unsuccesstuiy He preferred
the Ditratc OF silver but Others have used actual
cauery, caustic alkaitos. have performed
Ia eleven cases ana cauterzation seven times four
with the nitrate oil silver aud three with actual
csntery, and always successfully"
As 10 tho treatment with strychnta which DR..
Koetschmer employed, Or. Hammond said that he did
not believe 10 II, but would not condemn It, because
In a disease which had never been cured PHI sician
was justified IN doing anything which he might fancy
weuid do good.