The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-08
A Severe Case Of Hydrophobia.

depot at lSl Larabee street, Chicago,
died recently of hydrophoba in one of
its most hideous forms Alsberge lived
in a locality notorious for the number
and ferocity of it's dogs. There is not a
policeman in the Chicago Avenue police
station who does not keep away from
the place as if it were plague spot.
About two months ago Alsberge was
attacked on Larabee street by dog he
had never seen before, and nobody re-
members having seen since, and was Sc
verely bitten on the right forearm. He
bandaged the wound at the time, and
when he reached home he caused it to
be cauterized. In due time it healed
up and deceased went about his bust
ness as usual. Now and then, however,
and itching sensation in the forearm
bothered him. He told his intimate
friends of it, but did not communicate
the fact to the medical profession, with
his suspicious. On one occasion he felt
troubled in the throat by difficulty to
swallow. A DIR. Pess was called in,
but he thought that it was diphtheria,
or some other affection of the throat
He let it 60 at thai. The condition of
Alsberge looked serious, for the first
time, and he complained of an inability
to eat or drink at the supper table.
Then it was that his wife and eldest
daughter, who had been talking about
the matter with the neighbors, concluded
that it was best to summon DR.. Henro-
tin. On his arrival the physician or
dered the patient to bed. He knew
at once that his poor patient was
suffering from hydrophobia, that it
would be of virulent type, and al
though he had poor hopes Ct cure,
called in DR.. Bartlett for consultation.
In the meantime the patient continued
to foam at the mouth, and whimpered
like an abused dog. The complexion
began to pale, shortly, and the eye grew
gradually inexpensive. At this june
tuye both doctors agreed to give the pa
tent sub-cutaneous injections of curare,
poison used to tip arrows by the
Asiatic Indians, and reputed to contain
extraordinary curative properties. The
first injection had hardly been given
when the patient appeared to rally some
what. The manifestation was, however,
followed by a paroxysm of extraordinary
violence. Alsberge first threw himself
upon his back in the bed, clenched his
fists as if to strain every fiber, and sud
denly plunged forward, with his eyes
bullying from their sockets, endeavored
to gain his feet by springing over the
pillows firmly but tenderly placed upon
his bosom. He then sank back APP
parently exhausted, and emitting flood
of foam, groaning and gurgling at the
same time. Alsberge's wife and daush-
ter were present when the fit com
menced, but both were removed in a
faintiag condition. The daughter es-
pecially is a very weak woman, and the
spectacle, it is thought, has affected her
permanently. The patient was now
resting comfortably and cognizant of his
condition. He talked nationally to his
wife, and settled his worldly affairs as he
desired them. A twitching of the
patients mouth betokening another
spasm, the women were again removed,
to give place to Alsberge's son and
brother. Their advent was very timely.
The next tit Mortified the physicians
themselves. Alsberge suddenly leaped
up in bed, threw himself back with a
grea. thud, and emitted torrents
of matter from the mouth and
nestrils. 1t was o CHASTITY duty to keep
the mouth clear. While one of the at
PENDANTS was so engaged, Alsberge gave
o series of distinct banks that shook the
bed and the other furniture perceptibly.
He then fell to yelping, and continued
to until he sank back exhausted upon
his pillow, which by this time was reek
ing with slime. In his paroxysm he had
broken down his couch, and now the bed
lay upon the floor. In this position he
was securely bound by the legs. 1t was
not found necessary to pinion his arms,
as they became suddenly paralyzed.
Fits similar to the above occurred at the
quick intervals for several hours, and
continued for forty eight hours prior to
dissolution. During all this time the
curare injections were given, but the
physicians had abandoned all hope last
night. A party named Rar called in
during the evening with German herb,
purporting to be sure cure, but the
patient could not swallow it. This