The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-09-06
A DIREFUL DIET.

Thirty-two Negroes, Having Partaken OF
the Flesh of Hogs that Died from the Bites
of IA Rabid Dog, Seized with Hydrophobia
-The Malady Among the Mules-A Race
for Life from a Mad Mule-A Scared Conn
munity.
EUFALA, ALA, August 20.
This neighborhood Is in a state of
tremendous excitement over the whole
sale spread of hydrophobia on the planta-
ton of Punch Doughtie. DIR. L. b.
Johnson has just returned from Mr..
Doughtie's pla Station, where he had been
summoned. He found thirty-two per-
sons suffering with disease which he at
once pronounced hydrophobia in mild
form. All the sufferers are negroes.
Three of them are desperately sick, one
being liz the throes of delirium and so low
that the doctor says he is liable to die
at any moment. More than three
weeks ago hog bitten by a dog died on
MIR. Doughtie's plantation, and the car
cass was given to the negroes to be con-
verified into soap grease. Instead of util-
izing it for this purpose, thirty -two me-
groes on the place and In the neighbour
hood ate the flesh of the hog. Mr..
Doughtie says that on July % one of his
dogs went mad and bit mule and sew
eral hogs. On August Ii the first hog
died, and was eaten by the negroes. Two
more died on August Is, one on August
% and one on August 81, and all were
eaten except the last, when the par
takers of the poisoned flesh be-
came sick. The mule exhibited signs
of madness on the nineteenth day after
being bitten. Eleven days after theNitirst
hog was eaten ten of the negroes were
taken. Two days ago another dog was
discovered to be mad, aud was killed af-
ter having bitten niue. Another dog
on the lot is now housed, and will be
experimental with for cure. The dog
that bit the mule and hogs disappeared,
and the whole neighborhood is in terror
lest he went am ng cattle and hogs
throughout the place before dying. A
dozen out of the thirty-two eat
ers of the affected hogs are
seriously sick, and the Developments
among the others are awaited with the
greatest interest. DIR. Johnston, an able
physician, says 1t Is a terrible case and
that he fears the worst. He says that 1t
would not surprise him If the greater
number of the thirty two persons should
die. few days ago Mr.. Doughtie rode
out, at the request of field hand, to In
spect the condition OF one oil
his mules, which was acting
strangely. On reaching the pas
ture where u dozen mules were, the
animal which Mr.. Doughtie was riding
Weighed, which attracted the attention oi
the other animals, and the sick Que par
ticulariy, which Immediately rushed on
the mule and rider, and seized the saddle
of the animal with his teeth. Mr.
Doughtie dismounted and succeeded IN
loosening the mad mules hold; but nc
sooner was dhis done than the infuriatec
beast turned upon his owner, who
fed for his life, pursued by the
mule. There was desperate race
of quarter of mile through
underground, asd Mr.. Doughtie only
saved himself by lodging around sap
lings. A small stretch OF clearing inter
ened between the woods and the house
and the terrified man took life an6
death chance ON making 1t. Before leay
ing the woods the mule had bitten out ,
piece of MIR. Doughtie's coat, and whil'
manGvering around the tree the ANNA
bit himself savagely In several places
tearing out a mouthful OF flesh eacl
time. The race for the house wa
close one, and just q
Mr.. Doughtie reached the top OF tn
fence, the mule overlook him, but in
stead of reaching his victim, struck hi
head against fence post In the wild rus
and was knocked senseless. The mu
was afterwards killed by Mr.. Doughtie
1t is now reported that the whole herd o
mules are affected Many of them hav
leaped the fences and will doubles
spread the disease among other animal
in the neighborhood. The community
al loss no to arrest the disease.