The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30
A HYDROPHOBIA PANIC.
The Disease Communicated to Plantation
Negroes by Eating infected Hog.

EUFAULA, Ala, Aug 29.-The people of this
neighborhood are in state of tremendous ex-
citement over the wholesale spread of hydro
phobia on the plantation of Punch Doughtie DR..
e. B. johnson has just returned from Mr..
Doughtie's plantation, where he had been sum
moned. He found thirty-two persons suffering
with disease which he at once pronounced ny
drophobia in a mild form. All the sufferers are
negroes. Three of them are desperately sick,
one being in 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 dog, died on Mr.. Doughtie's planta-
ton, and the carcass was given to the negroes to
be converted into soap grease. Instead of util-
izing it for this purpose, thirty-two negroes on
the place and in the neighborhood ate the flesh
of the hog.
Mr.. Doughtie SAYS that on July % one Of his
dogs went mad and bit mule and several hogs.
On Aug. Ii the first hog died and was eaten by
the negroes. Two more died on Aug. 1S, ono on
Aug % and one on Aug "a, and all were eaten
except the last when the partakers of the
poisoned flesh became sick. The mule exhibited
signs of madness on the nineteenth day after
being bitten. Eleven days after the first hog
was eaten ten of the negroes were taken sick.
Two days after another dog was discovered to
be mad and was killed after having bitten
mule. 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
among cattle and hogs throughout the belt
before dying.
A dozen out of the thirty-two eaters of the
affected hogs are seriously sick and the develop
ments among the others are awaited with the
greater interest DIR. johnson, an able physi-
clan, says that 1t is terrible case, and that he
fears the worst. He says that it would not sur
prise him if the greatest number of the thirty
two persons should die.
A few days ago Mr.. Doughtie rode out, at the
request Of a ield-hand to inspect the condition
of one Of his mules which was acting strangely.
On reaching the pasture where dozen mules
were, the animal Mr.. Doughtie was riding neighed,
which attracted the attention Of the other
animals, and the sick one particularly, 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 no sooner
was this done than the infuriated beast
turned on his owner, who fed for his
life, pursued by the mule. There was
q desperate race of a quarter of a mile through
underground, and Mr.. Doughtie only saved him
self by dodging around saplings, A small
stretch Of clearing interviewed between the woods
and the house, and the terrified man took life
and death chance on making it. Before leaving
the woods the mule had bitten out piece OF
Mr. Doughties coat, and while running around
the tree the animal bit himself savagely in sew
eral places, tearing out mouthful OF flesh each
time. The race for the house was Close and
Just as Mr. Doughtie reached the top of the
fence the mule overlook him, but instead of
reaching his victim, struch his head against
fence-post in a wild rush. and was knocked sense
less The mule was afterward killed by Mr..
Doughtie.
1t is now reported that the wole herd of mules
are affected. Many. of them have leaped the
fences, and will doubtless spread the disease
among other animals in the neighborhood. The
community is at loss how to arrest the disease.