Daily Republican., 1879-10-13
GEORGE w. POWELL DIES.

GEORGE w. POWELL DIES. So
Another warning to Those Who
Will Persist In FOndltng Worth
less DOKs-The Details Of The Vic.
tlun's Horrible Death.
The hydrophobic attack under which
Mr.. Powell Of this city was laboring
OH Saturday proved fatal yesterday
morning. The facts of the case from
the time of the biting up till the
middle of the afternoon on Saturday
have beesn fully detailed in the col
umns Of the REPUBLICAN. The publica-
tion Of the special in our extra was
eagerly sought for, and the deepest in
terest in Mr.. Powell's condition was
manifested.
After the REPUBLICAN left the baths
in Philadelphia where Mr.. Powell was
placed under treatment the physicians
were putting him again in the BATH
From that time up till six O'Clock they
kept applying this treatment, the
spasms occurred at intervals Of every
two minutes. At two O'Clock DR.. Cam
eron called in Prof. McFarlan, Profess
sor Of the Homeopathic Medical College,
in consultation with DR.. Allen, family
physician of the brother of Mr.. Powell.
There were several of Mr.. Powell's
relatives in attendance, ,one of whomMr.
Powell had been looking for some
time; and as lie came up to the sufferer
the latter seemed SO overjoyed thai in
his endeavor to manifest his feelings
he was taken with another spasm more
violent than any one previous.
Up to that time DR.. Cameron had
hopes of his recovery. But after that
the spasms became more frequent and
hourly more violent. He was placed in
the baths after this at regular inter-
walls. While not in the throes Of the
disease the patient was willing to sub
nit to anything suggested by the ply
sicians, but upon being taken into the
vapor he would gasp and as he felt the
paroxysm as it again seized him he
would exclaim otis coming, it's
coming, must get out" In these
moments the concentrated power of six
men could not hold him. Upon one oc-
casion be wrenched himself from the
grasp of the physicians as though they
were infants and dashed from the vapor
into an adjoining apartment.
PLEADING FOR DEATH.
He during the day expressed wish
that he might be killed. Later in the
afternoon he said to his physicians,
II feel that the spasms are becoming
more and more violent. l am glad of
that for shall be out Of my misery
sooner" At five o'clock it was decid-
ed to subject him to another bath. At
first he demurred but being told that it
was the only chance of saving his life
he consented; and said be would try to
"stay in." He however broke from
his attendants after entering. That
was the last bath. DR.. Cameron left
the patient in charge Of the othe. Phy-
sicians and returned to this city. At
$50 o'clock that evening there was
consultation and it was the opinion oil
all that the spasms must be checked
and that as last resort it would be
we'll to etherize him. This was done
and under the palliative remedies and
repeated every five or ten minutes
the patient subsided into quiet condi-
tion.
DR.. Elvin, the proprietor, still main
tanned the virtues of the vapor and
suggested that he be strapped to a
board while in this cOmatose state and
taken into the bath and kept there
until the paroxysm had ceased. This
however did not meet with favor. From
that time up till one o'clock Sunday
morning, his rest was a broken one;
FOR few moments apparently asleep
and the next moaning and talking
inaudibly. After one o'clock he relaps-
ed into conatose condition unbroken
by spasms. Between five and six
o'clock an effort was made to awake
him but it was of no avail. The only
reply was few incoherent mutterings.
Mr.. Powell's two brothers, his son
and step-son who were by the bedside
saw that the end was drawing nigh
and efforts were made to ascertain what
the sufferer was saying. Not word
could bs understood. From that time
up till abouta quarter Of eleven no out
ward change was manifested. At the
expiration of the time alluded to the
unfortunate victim died. The easy
manner of his death was attributed
by the physicians to the admins
tration of the baths and to the effect of
the opiates.
Wls HORRIBLE sUFFERINGs.
Yesterday the REPUBLICAN called on
DR.. Cameron at his residence, and in
with the above facts he
stated that the trouble experienced by
him in getting his patient to Philadsl-
phia was in his dread of water. Upon
crossing the Brandywine and other
streams, and passing places where
there were the least evidences of water
the victim would be seized with spasms.
Upon approaching Gray's Ferry Bridge
he again manifested this dread as the
train approached the place he held his
nose and mouth, and closing his eyes
crossed over without paroxysm. The
windows were closed and every effort
made to avoid even draft of air. Mr..
Powell, in riding along, kept his hat
over his eyes.
Upon arriving in Philadelphia, as
was stated in our dispatches, the same
difficulty was experienced. He took
The Ninth street car intending to stop
1t Chestnut. but owing to the crowd ha