Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25
A Singular Case of Hydrophobia.

Mr.. Charles Alsberry, French tailor,
doing business at 1875 Larrabee Street,
died yesterday morning. in terrible
agony. In many respects his malady
resembled hydrophobia. 1t seems that
about six weeks ago, on q Friday morn
ing, a young boy came into Mr.. Asher
rvs shop with pointer pup and re-
quested that Mr.. Alsberry would keep
the dog for an hour or two. The tailor
consented, and in order to make sure
that he would not get lost or stolen,
undertook to put him in the cellar. To
this procedure the dog naturally OBJ
jected, and in the struggle which en-
sued, bit Mr.. Alsberry in the right wrist.
The wound soon healed, but on the
third day, in order to be on the safe
side, it was cauterized. The lacerated
wrist soon became well and the tailor
dismissed the matter from his mind and
resumed his daily avocation.
On last Wednesday, however, symp-
toms resembling those of hydrophobia
began to make their appearance, q
swelling of the wound and of the right
limbs was observed, and Mr.. Alsberry
began to bark like a dog, and complain
that his throat was so swollen that he
could not swallow food, and finally
showed an adherence of water, The
bite of the dog was then brought to
mind and he began to fear that he was
about to be attacked by the dread dis
ease. DR.. Henrotin was summoned and
pronounced the case one of hydropho-
bia, and treated it accordingly, calling
in other physicians. The patient seemed
perfectly conscious of his condition and
could feel the approach of his parox-
vsms, when he would direct his attend
ants to bind him. This was done, not be-
cause he exhibited any violent desire to
bite those around him, but because when
in his spasms he would be possessed
with the idea that he must work, and it
was thought unwise for him to 60 to the
shop. On Thursday he seemed little
better. The loathing of water ceased,
and he began to crave the fluid, and
was not able to drink enough to satisfy
his desire. But the spasms still required
at regular intervals of about twelve
hours each, though not so violent as be-
fore. In the intervals between them he
was cheerful, even jovial, though this
was probably occasioned by an unnat-
ural excitement of mind produced by
the disease. In this state he continued
through Friday, and it was hoped that
he would recover.
On yesterday morning, however, his
spasms became unusually violent, and
his family were so frightened that help
was summoned from the Chicago Ave-
nue. Police Station. At about ten o'clock
he became suddenly unconscious, and
so continued for about an hour and a
half, when he died.
DIR. Henrotin, who had been in con-
slant attendance npon the patient since
Wednesday, is at loss whether or not
to consider this a genuine case
of rabies. The absence of dread
of water after the first day,
and the quiet nature of the par
oxysms make it phenomenal if it
was hydrophobia. The doctor thinks
that perhaps the swelling of the limbs
and throat may be attributed to rheu-
matism, aggravated by some little poi
son not of hydrophobic nature, COM
municated from the bite of the. dog.
The neighbors were continually remark
ing about the danger of the disease,
and this may have worked SO upon the
mans mind that when his throat swelled
he became convinced that he was a vic
tim, and SO fancied that he could not
drink water. This may also have &C.
casioned his barking. 1t is the DOCTORS
conjecture that if he was not afflicted
with the rabies, he died of nothing but
fright.
Mr.. Alsberry was fifty-one years of
Times.