New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

AN OLD GREEK CURE FOR HYDROPHOBlA.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: Among some very old papers l have
lately received there is relating to the terrible as
order of hydrophobia to which would Ike to call your
attention. About sixty years ago, Dr. Morscnetu
made discovery of bsters under the tongue In persons
bitten by rabid animal His treatment of this discov-
ery like many another encountered much opposition
at the time that who disposed to consider the
matter seriously stigmatized with the epithet OF
ouaeks Later the method communicated by Dr.
Morachetti was praotised with uniform success This
fact was established by article translated from TIE
Greek OF DIR. xanthos, Of Cyprus, and published In
Hufeords Journal der Prdetseheri Heie-KundL DR..
xanthos also stated that after Of doubt he no
longer hestated about bringing the matter before the
public He also that the Prussion Government
had given directions TO investigate the matter the result
of which was the bsters discovered In many
cases in the hospitals In France similar phenomenon
had observedand treated with success Hydrophoba
is Internationally OF the most formidable scourges
that aict the human race yet ts Is seldom
known 10 the Levant where dogs and other animals are
moro common than with u.s. II is supposed that the
practice recommended by Dr. Morachett h universal or
was on the OF the Mediterranean and In the Greek
Islands DIR. Xanthos in 1928 compelled by dis
trbances in his country take his residence In
Zurich where he met Greek from the Peloponnesus past
middle age and familiar with the customs Of his
country He said that all that necessary to cure
the bite OF a mad dog to cut 1t out with sharp
knife and on ninth day the bsters which appeared
under the tongue Of the person bitten, aud which the
Greeks called Iyssais Gamma and to suffer the
bleeding until the poison discharged DIR. Xsnthos
immediately certain written questions from Helde-
berg and obtained from Arou the following reply from
Polychronis, Thessalonan:
II man is bitten by mad dog on the ninth day
small bsters called Lyssais appear nnder the tongue
they are rather dark colored about the size Of pe
some OF them smaller and look Ike flesh They are stu
ated on the under side Of the tongue. near the mem
you observe the tongue OF sound man. and then cram
Inc that OF a who has been bitten by a mad dog,
yon will Immediately see the difference As n, soon ,a
sharp knife and the bleeding continued Till the poison Is
discharged II this Is neglected deferred too long the
brain becomes affected and the patient VIII die In deplef-
able commissions"
"seven Greeksv said Dr. Xanthos, "who stopping
at Arou natives of Thessay and Eprs and the islands
OF Greece, confirmed this testimony" An Epirot at
Basic informed the in his country after the
Lyssais and the wound had bled copi-
ousy il the 10 rub twfth garlic aud common
salt he answered the doctor that he mad frequently
this DONE and after the plan had been carefully ur
sued the patient after the forteth day out OF all
danger He added that the inhabitants OF the neigh
boring mountains after the operation on the Lyssais'
tent wash his mouth with the rDsngs Thirteen Greek
stopping Base confirmed this testimony APelopon-
teen to twenty years Russia, who then In swzer-
land the doctor tat he had often employed this
method in Russia with the happe't success ~ some
squeeze river crawfsh TO the wound Inc nhaDitahts
had great faith tho efficacy OF orawsh IN cases OF by
dr0phoba and used them internally and externally.
10 appears that the treatment OF
this ghtfu disorder throughout Greece was by excelsior
OF the Lyssafs That had Its origin ~ 6reeeels cyl.
dent from the name which Is used throughout that
country O. II. Q. II.
brooklyn June 10. 1883.