Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-26
A SPITZ DOG,S BITE.
A New Jersey Boys Terrible Death
from HFdroph0btas
Phflndlelnhin Prae

P91Gto0etphG0 ETeSS.
A terrible death from hydrophobia oc-
Cured last night in Camden. VIM. Gardi-
ner, sixteen-vear- old boy, living with his
parents at No IS Vine street, in North Cam
den, died at 7:15 O'Clock, after having suf-
fered the agonies Of more than thirty
spasms, in as many hours. DR.. W. h. Ire
land attended the case, and pronounced the
disease to have heen genuine rabies, result
ing from dogs bite.
As near as the lads mother can recollect,
her son was bitten some time during the
latter part Of last September. He was en-
ployed as helper In a rolling mill in Ken
sington, and while crossing the Vine street
ferry, to go to his work, he undertook to
fondle a strange Spitz dog on board the
boat. The boy was extremely fond OF all
kinds Of animals, and persisted in attempt
ing to make friends with the dog, but his
advances were met with q snsrl, and finally
with savage bite on tee ligaments between
the thumb and forefnger. The wound
bled freely at first, but stopped during the
day, and was uDnoticed until evening, when
It was caused to bleed afresh by some Of the
lads companions, who were wrestling with
him on the ferry boat, wher, by advice Of
some older companions, he went to DR.. E.
L. B. Godfrey, in Camden, and had the
wound cauteriZed.
This practically ended the matter, as far
as the lads own remembrance went, for he
never referred to it again, even when at
tackled by the first symptoms Of the fatal
malady. On Saturday morning last William
complained Of q severe headache and an
unusual dryness Of the throar, and by six
O'Clock In the evening he appeared unwell
enough to call for the services of a physi-
clan, although 1t was not then suspected
what was the matter. DR.. Ireland visited
the house and found the lad suffer
ing from what he supposed to be
hysteria, as the symptoms of rabies
were not then pronounced. A simple
nervine was prescribed, and the
physician left. About ten o'clock the
patient had slight CONFUSION, which was
followed by another an hour later. Then
the parents remembered the dogs bite of
nearly four months ago, and member OF
the family was hurriedly dispa' ched to the
office Of DR.. Godfrey, only to find that the
physician was attending a call at the other
end of Camden. As the lad appeared to
be resting somewhat easier on the return of
the messenger, no further medical aid was
sought that night.
On Sunday morning DR.. Ireland made .
second visit, and then found unmistakable
symptoms OF hYdrophobia. A glass of water
was handed to the hoy for the purpose Of
rinsing his mouth, and the moment his eyes
fell on the liquid a contraction OF the mus
Giles Of the throat ensued, and he fell back
10 a spasm. The pupils of his eyes were
somewhat dilated, and when he coughed
TIE Efforts had the shrill sound of a dogs
bark. DR.. Ireland at once gave hyperder-
mic irjection Of hydrate Of choral, and ad-
ministered an adults dose of bromide OF
potassium. This produced little or no eff
feet, and it was not until the treatment had
been repeated three times that the
desired effect of quieting the
nerves was attained. Then after the
sopOrifcs had exhausted themselves, and
the deadly poison began coursiDg through
the boys veins, the commissions increased
IN frequency and force. The eyes became
fixed, staring and CLASSY, and the slightest
muscular exertion of the larnyx, either in
speaking or clearing the throat caused
the most painful sparms. By mid
night on Sunday the disease had al
most reached its height. The skin had
then become so extremely sensitive that
the draught caused by person passing
would cause the sufferer to gasp for breath
and 90 into the most agoniziug contortions.
During his rational intervals the lad never
referred to the bite, seemingly having lost
all memory of IL. He made the most fran
tic efforts to swallow water, but the moment
the glass reached mis- mouth the rigors
would occur and continue from five
to twenty minutes. The copious in
iections OF choral had the effect of reducing
the severity Of the spasms to some extent,
and 1t was not found necessary to resort to
the extreme measure of strapping the
patient down to the bed or floor. All day
Yesterday the commissions continued, and at
sunset the patient was so thoroughly ex-
hausted that he could scarcely lift a finger.
His eyes were bloodshot and protruding,
and his attempts to clear the mucous from
his throat were more painfully like the Yelp
Of dog than ever. A lucid interval came
between and z o'clock, and the poor
fellow was able for moment to recognize
the weeping relatives at the bedside, when
he relspsed into state of semi-unconscious-
ness, and remained in that condition until
released by death.