New-York tribune., 1884-11-03
SCRATCHED BY an Ant BEAR.
MAN WHO WAS HURT IN SEPTEMBER SAID TO BE
DYING-PECULrARITY OF rHE DISEASE.
Az caosi1a Aouarium nt rOnev Island

At u Seaside Aquarium, ut COney Island,
last summer there was on exhibition South American
ant bear n II peculiar animal. standing about four
feet high, has long bshy tall used as blanket when
the animal f. asleep and snout shaped like an cle
pbants trunk into which II gathers ants by the aid OF
long tongue upon which IA secrctcd gutinous
saliva. II has no teeth but has claws
upon t fore feet about three inches long, which
to tear up the ant hills and alsO as means OF defence
This anteater exceedingly Wild and would claw at
everyone who near It's II was confined In
cage covered with two hcmesses OF extra heavy wirc
and as further precauOD sign was fastened 70 the
cage bearing the inscription Hands on"
Edward W. Howe had charge Of all the animals at the
Aquarium and had become familiar with their habits
that he Ind fear and handled them all rs II they were
kittens. lie had been warned by his employer TO look
ont for the bear 1t treacherous and liable at
any moment sink It's claws Into his hand. lie paid no
attention the repeated warnngs, and continued to
fonde the bear which seemed to have taken fancy to
him. ms no else about the place could go near II with
out being clawed at On september 20 the bear was par
ticulary ugly much that Howe tried TO pass Its
food through opening between the wire and the floor
of tho cage, instead Of through the door The pan
holding the bears breakfast, consisting OF meat,
eggs aud carrots was too large to pass under
the wire and Howe carcessly opened the cage door and
placed the pan inside The bear struck at his mana VI
clousy with its paw and the claws sunk deeply into
fIowes right hand He drew L back quickly but consd-
place greatly alarmed rs was believed that the
OF IL poisonous dcdtn Is
follow IT, Howe, however treated the matter lightly and
laughed at the fears OF his friends.
About week after the scratch iioWes hand began TO
swell aud the swelling gradually extended III It az
fcoted the entire arm, and the muscles upon the rgh
side of his body still -cOicd at the idea that he had
been poisoned but left Coney Island and came 10 hs
home Ibis city. Small red spots began To appear upon
his body and raging foyer set In lie lost his appetite
entire aud became greatly oXhaated lle mani Iusoi
symptoms of deTum, and his friends becoming alarmed
removed him bellevue Hospital on October ii, where
he was assigned 10 tho Iry spelas Pavilion. All lhat
medical skill could suggest has been dono Ior hin bnt
he hn, steadily declined riuce his ndmltlh
n nrrvue e has able tn take solid food, and
Onl small quantity ~ liquid, ana hhn 'orh growing
weaker 0Vrry day. Last week ho Was drllilouH
Howe lies upon his buck with Wild stare on hls face.
aud Keeps up long. d1unl monn, lic hh7 nn knowrdso
of what II passing around him, aud rarely moves amy
pnrt ~ hl7 body Tho red .pola have en hlH hod but
few remain ON his co His lcsh II exceedingly hot To
the touch, aud there Hcoma to be- IN inward heat thn u
SLOWLY Aappiug his vitality The Attending PHI Ncla has
given up all hope Of saving hln, hnd MS dchih lS'A'
poctcd at any time,