The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-22

The London Times recently contained an in
teresting article upon the disease known as
hydrophobia, from which we make the follow
ing extract:
The following account of the cure of case of
genuine hydrophobia by he administration of
curare or 'wourali (the Indian arrow poison
will no doubt interest our readers, as it shows
that this disease may prove less fatal than has
hitherto been believed. The use of curars has
been recommended by both English and for.
eign physicians, but no published account has
hitherto appeared of its successful administra-
ton. The following is extracted from a treat
Use by DR.. Otenburg, who treated the case at
Munster, IL Westpbalia. On the 23d of july.
1874, peasant girl, aged "a, was bitten on the
f b2sSo by r dsro aoS Several dogs had bes9
farmer had died of hydrophobia at the adj.
joining farm. The wound became gradually
worse, and refused to heal, and she was there.
fore admitted on the 9Th of October to the
Franciscus Hospital Favorable progress was
the 10th, the usual symptoms of hydrophobia
suddenly appeared. COnvulsive spasm of the
throat and chest, contractions of the muscles.
restlessness, mertal terror, increased every
minute, and were soon followed by antipathy
s % s ana to water the sight which pro-
chloroform having been given without result,
asubcutaneous injection of three centigrammes
OF curare was made at AS D. NJ. into the arm,
and during the next four and half hours five
more injections were made, the quantity vary
ing from two to three centigrammes. After
the second injection the spasms began to d.
m1nlsb, and to appear at longer intervals, and
the terror and mental anxiety were succeeded
by loquacious cheerfulness.
At 800 a. m. the first symptom of paralysis
appeared, and on two occasions spasm was
followed by complete cessation of respiration,
which was quickly restored by compression of
the abdomen. The spasms continued to
diminish while tho paralysis of the muscles in
creased, aud movement and speech became ex-
tremely difficult. But after 7.30 a. m. these
was able to quench her thirst without pain or
i'll results. The improvement continued during
the day, headache and great weakness being
the most marked symptoms. On the 18th
administration of three centigrammes of
curare as measure of precaution, and after
this the recovery was rapid and uninterrupted.
Ga the Oath the patient ate some bread and
milk, and enjoyed good sleep; on. the 9th the
headache finally disappeared; and on the Sd of
December, the wound having completely
healed, che returned to her home.
When visited on the 10th, she merely com.
planned of slight weakness and dislike to
very strong light. The above case seems to
prove that curare must be employed in paralal-
izing quantities to insure good result. 1t
seems probably that after incubation with the
poison of rabies certain organic substance is
developed, which rapidly produces its dreadful
effects on the nervous system, and as rapidly
disappears, either by expulsion or by transfer
nation, into inocuUns substances. Curare ar
rests and PARALLELS for time the action of the
poison, and during this period the expulsion or
transformation alluded to is effected. Its use
cannot be too strongly recommended; there is
nothing to lose and everything to be gained,
and in the above case at any rate it proved
completely successful