The Dawson journal., 1884-02-14
IN DEATH AGONY.
The Result Of HydrophObia in
Red Clay.

~Ai0 JAaCe, duu although MY lSHo-
rance of medical phrases prevents
me from answering from a medical
standpoint, will give you such an
outline rs came within my personal
knowledge as an eye witness to the
fearful scene:
On the 18th of December last a
seven year old son of ]. B. Simmons,
of this place, was severely bitten by
An immense bull dog. The tusks of
the dog We're deeply planted-two
under the chin and two above the
mouth, making four missions
and closing the child's mouth SO finn
ly that the attending physician was
compelled to use much force in re.
moving his teeth from his tongue.
The patient was strong, healthy
and robust, and the wounds healed
rapidly. Not thinking the dog was
''mad,' all danger was considered
past, and but little thought given
the matter until the evening of Jan
uary 22d, when an uneasiness was
noticed and the little fellow stated
that 'the place hurts where the dog
bit me" An examination showed
the scars from the bite to be of
scarlet color from which re- streak,
as if from Inflammation, nearly incir
cled the neck. He next complained
of an intolerable itching in bis neck
and soreness Of the throat. DR..
Mitchell examined and Informed me
that the throat was very much infam-
ed and quite black. These condi-
tons continued until evening of 23d
and through restless, sleepless night
On the morning of 9th Slight
projection, expansion Of eye balls and
contraction of pupils was accompa-
MED by highly excited nervous
system. A sudden sound, quick
motion, a clock striking, a chicken
growing, or draught of air from a
fan, or bed covering would cause a
sudden shrinking, convulsive move
ment, which would cease as soon as
the sound or motion was under
stood. During the day no sleep,
food nor drink was taken, except a
small portion of milk and piece of
green apple. The bowels and urinary
organs were dormanr, although de-
sire to act was continually manifest
ed, while complaint Of hot head and
feet and cold body proved just the
reverse of the case.
By six o'clock on the evening Of
24th patient complained of pain in
the back Of his head; his eyes pro-
jected fearfuIly and he would gaze at
any one as if staring with horror at
some dreaded monster. A constant
moving was kept up. No one posi-
ton would be retained. The bed
was "too hard and too hot" A par
ticle of moving air. the slightest
noise, ray of light from candle Or
lamp, would Immediately produce Il
nervous CONFUSION The breathing
was rapid and hoarse; the exppcto-
ration was constant and frothv, often
a tough, ropy saliva. BY nine O'Clock
slight rest was noticed for about
five minutes when a visitor casually
asked if he had drank any water
The child had not had water up to
this moment, but when he heard the
word "water' he screamed, water
water! give me- water, quick !" It
was brought, the glass eagerly seized
and portion swallowed which at
once produced commissions and yom-
iting.
From the moment Of water being
named, he was seized with an intol-
cradle thirst mad thirst, which
could not be quenched. Imaginary
pains in the hand, ear knee or foot
indeed to name any part of the
body would produce the cry. "It
hurts there too" demonstrating the
fact that the entire physical system
was suffering such excrutiating ago
mes that no one member had suple-
macy oyeranother. At this stage Of
the disease the least deviation from
a perfect quiet on part Of attendants
and semialarkened room was in
tensely annoying The eyes were
distended, and apparently protruded
SO much that the lids could not close
without pain, while the pupils con-
tracted 10 almost an invisible point.
The demand for water continually
increased, the frothy, Shiny expecto-
ration flowed freely, the breathing
became more frequent, hard. short