The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-13
A HORRIBLE DEATH.
The suferings of a Woman Who Died Of
Hydrophobia.

MIS-. EliZaDeIn quicker, VfCtlm OF
hydrophobia died at Reading, Pa, last
week in terrible agony. She rested COM
paratively easy during her last night and
her condition seemed somewhat improved
in the morning She was kept under the
influence of drugs all night. She sat up in
bed and leaned forward, with both her
hands on the bed and her head resting
down and against the post. In this posi-
ton she seemed to feel more at ease. She
refused to lie down and said she would
strangle if she did. Hypodermic injec
tions of morphia were made in her right
arm near the spot that had been torn and
lacerated by the dog. She remarked to a
lady by her bedside, 'NOh, Maggie, stay
with me all night. I know [ must die,
and when | get to heaven II pray for you. "
She remained awake all night and was
very much exhausted at Z o'clock. Her
two daughters, aged 10 and 10, were
shortly afterward admitted to her room
and painful interview ensued. She told
them it was their last meeting as she would
have to die
Subsequently she became very violent
and at noon was in terrible spasms Her
throat was paralyzed, and the sight of
water threw her into violent commissions.
After the spasm had subsidized she became
conscious and remarked that she was burn
ing with internal heat. She was wet with
Precipitation, and her efforts to get breath
were terrible in the extreme. She gnash-
ed her teeth in a swapping like way.
Crowds congregated in the vicinity and
the sickening noise and groans brought
tears to the eyes of many women and
children. Her fingers turned black and
blue. About 1 o'clock came her last con-
scious moment. She gazed around her
with terrible look of despair. She be
lieved to the very last moment that she
was dying of heart disease. Shortly be-
fore o'clock her head dropped to one
side. She became quiet and her muscles
relaxed. Her breath came short and quick.
Considerable froth emerged from her
mouth. A few minutes before o'clock
she died from suffocation.
Mrs. Quicker was bitten in the right fore
arm by dog on June 30. An hour after
she was bitten she summoned a doctor
The wound was deep one and was inn
mediately cauterized by the doctor, who
also gave Mrs. Quicker preparation to be
taken internally. In twenty or thirty days
the wound was healed, the medical treat
ment having been continued, as well as the
application to the wound and about four
weeks ago the woman called at the doctors
office and reported that her arm was as well
as ever, except that numb1ess was felt in
the arm, This was regarded as the natural
result of the injury sustained by the
nerves and Mrs. Quicker went about her
work as usual until Wednesday afternoon.
About 3 O'Clock that afternoon the doctor
was summoned, as Mr.. Quicker had sudden
ly been attacked with what she thought
was valvular contraction of the heart, as a
near relative had died of heart disease
OH n (fa7fSf or he
stated to the physician that she
had benn unable to sleep during
the previous night, seemed to suffer
from rheumatic pains in the arm
and back. She was also very much de
pressed, and exhibited unusual nervous
symptoms. Medicine was given her, and
after it a tablespoonful of water From the
manner in which she then acted it flashed
upon the doctor that his patient was suffer
ing from hydrodhobia. All the symptoms
of the disease were manifest She exhib
tied some aversion TO the water, but when
asked if she were afraid of the water she
said she was not, but that she was afraid
of stifiing-of losing her breath. From
three o'clock Wednesday afternoon. at in
tervals of from five to ten minutes, she
continued to have paroxysms of about
minutes duration. At these times it was
impossible 10 hold her STILL and her suffer
ings from the terrible malady were dread
full Upto nine o'clock Wednesday even
ing she was able to take liquid medicine.
When the spasms subsidized the woman re
covered consciousness perfectly. She
showed great win power in her efforts to
control her extreme nervousness. Her
only fear was that she would become sti-
fed, as any attempt to swallow necessitat-
ed great efforts.