Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-10-14
A DOGS FATAL BITE.
A Woman Dies After Experiencing
Horrible Agony.
From the Philadelphia Press


The wife of Jason Cox, a shoemaker,
living in Florence, N. J., died on Mon
day afternoon of genuine hydrophobia
after suffering three days horrible tor
ture. The case has some features
about it that are probably without pre-
cedent. Mrs. Cox was 63 years of age
and was large, stout woman, weigh
ing, perhaps, two hundred pounds. On
August Is she picked up small terrier
dog, intending to hand it over the fence
to d nelghbor, when the animal turned
and buried Its teeth in her right cheek.
The wound was painful at the time, but
after adhesive plasters had been ap-
piled it healed up and nothing more
was thought of it until some one advised
Mrs. Cox to reopen the cut, which she
did, and 1t healed second time, and
fortnight later the matter was almost
forgotten. On last Thursday evening
Mrs. Cox attended a church festival in
the village, and while eating a plate of
ice cream felt numb pain shoot down
from her cheek to her left shoulder.
The day following she was taken with
chill, followed by slight fever, which
the family considered the ordinary ma
larial trouble. On the afternoon of
Friday, however, a significant symptom
appeared. The woman became thirsty
as the fever increased, and requested a
glass of water. When it was handed to
her she shuddered slightly and was un-
able to swallow only small quantity,
and that with considerable difficulty.
DIR. Town, of Florence was called in
on Saturday morning, and when he ar
rived Mrs. Cox presented the symp-
toms of chills and fever, for which he
prescribed quinine, but finding the pa
tient unable to swallow, and learning
her aversion to all liquids, he at once
suspected the true state OF the case,
and called in DIR. Gauntt, of Burlington,
in consultation Mrs. Cox then showed
unmistakable evidences of rabies in her
horror of water and sensitive apprecia-
ton Of the slightest draught OF air.
She continued restless and feverish
through Saturday afternoon and eve
ming, continually asking for water and
not able to endure the sight of it when
brought to her. Early on Sunday
morning the first paroxysm occurred,
which was followed four hours later by
another. Prostration consequent upon
the terrible struggles ensued, and hy-
perdermic injections of morphia were
given, which only partly quieted the
patient, and she continued to exhibit
all the terrible characteristics of the
fatal malady in swapping and snarling
like dog until death came to her re-
lief on Monday afternoon at o'clock.
Among the peculiar accompaniment
of the case was the vomiting of large
quantities of coagulated blood and
froth, the frightful distortion of the
countenance, and the change of the
color of the skin.
"The poor soul knew perfectly well
what was the matter with her." said
Mrs. Bisbing, as she shudderingly re-
called the terrible scenes; land when /
went to see her on saturday she asked
that every one withdraw from her room
for fear that she might do them an in
jury. She spoke lovingly to her nus
band and children and told them she
could not live. Then she begged, oh!
so piteously, that they should not
smother her to death. At her own re-
quest we took bureau into the entry
to barricade the door so that she could
not escape and hurt any one. We held
the door ajar then, and, looking in, saw
Mrs. Cox sitting in chair near the
window. The scene that followed
moment later was horrible beyond de
scription. Her eye-balls became blood
red, and her face was twisted and dis
torted SO that her mouth appeared to
be drawn around on the right side. 1t
was wide open and she was splitting out
great fiecks of frothy blood. Suddenly
she gave a piercing shrek, and, lifting
both hands high above her head, made
a single bound for the open door Had
it not been Tor my husband she would
certainly have burst the door open,
Notwithstanding the heavy bureau
against it. After that the poor woman
began to snarl and bark Just like an
angry dog The paroxysm lasted about
fifteen minutes, and when we entered
the room again she was lying on the
bed exhausted.
"The barked and growled and CRASHED
her teeth together in wild frenzy. Her
struggles became weaker and weaker,
and few moments before ; o'clock
death ended the scene"