Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-09

DEAD FROM THE BITE OF RABID DOGS ARR
EATEN BY NEGROES, WHO THUS FALL. VIC
TINS TO THE DISEASE.
NEW YORK, August 29.-The Sun pub
fishes the following special from Eufaula,
Alabama:
The people in this neighborhood are in a
state of tremendous excitement over the
wholesale spread of hydrophobia on the
plantation of Punch Doughtie. DIR. E. B.
johnson has just returned from Mr.. Dough
ties plantation, where he had been sum.
moned. He found thirty-two persons suf.
fering from disease which he at once pro-
nounced hydrophobia in mild form. All
the sufferers were negroes. Three of them
are desperately sick, one being, in the
throes of delirium, and so low that the doc
tor says he IS liable to die any moment.
More than three weeks ago hog bitten
by dog died on Mr.. Doughtie's plantation,
and the carcass was given to the negroes to
be converted into soap grease. Instead Of
utilizing it for this purpose thirty-two me-
groes on the place and in the neighborhood
ate the flesh of the hog.
Mr.. Doughtie says that on July 25, one
of the dogs went mad, and bit mule and
several hogs. On August 13, the first hog
died, and was eaten by the negroes. Two
more died on August 18, one on August 90,
and one August 81, and all were eaten ex-
cept the last, when the partakers of the
poisoned flesh became sick. The mule ex-
hibited 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 ago another
dog was discovered to be mad, and was kill
ed after having bitten mule. Another
dog on the lot is now housed, and will be
ex, erimented with for cure. The dog
that bit the mule and hogs disappeared
and tine whole height orhood is in terror lest
he went among cattle and hogs throughout
the belt before dying.
A dozen out of the thirty-two eaters o.
the affected hogs are seriously sick, and the
developments among the others are await
ed with the greatest interest. Dr. johnson,
an able physician, says that it is a terrible
case and that he fears the worst. He says
that it would not surprise him if the great
er number of the thirty-two persons should
die.
at the request of a field hand, to inspect the
acting strangely. On reaching the pasture
Doughtie was riding neighed, which attract
ed the attention of the other animals, and
the sick one particularly, which Immediate
ly 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 soon.
er was this done than the infuriated beast
turned upon his owner, who fled fol
his life, pursued by the mule. There was
a desperate race of a quarter of a mile
through underground, and Mr.. Doughtie
only saved himself by lodging around sap.
lings. A small stretch of clearing interven-
ed 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 a piece of
Mr.. Doughtie's coat, and while vancouver
ing around the tree, the animal bit him.
self savagely in many places tearing out a
mouthful of flesh each time. The race for
the house was a close one, and Just as Mr..
Doughtie reached the top of the fence the
mule overlook him on a dead run, but in
stead OF reaching his victim struck his head
against fence post in wild rush and was
knocked senseless. The mule was after
ward killed by Mr.. Doughtie.
1t is now reported that the whole 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.