The Portland daily press., 1884-11-05
Scratched by an Ant Bear.
A Man Who Was Hurt i'm September said
TO BE Dying : Peculiarly OF the
Disease.

At the Seaside Aquarium at Coney Island
last summer there was on exhibition a South
American ant bear. 1t is peculiar animal,
standing about four feet high, has a long
bushy tail, used as blanket when the ami
NAL is asleep and snout shaped like an ele-
plants trunk into which it gathers ants by
the aid OF long narrow tongue upon which
is secreted glutinous saliva. 1t has no
teeth but has claws upon its fore feet, about
three inches long, which 1t uses to tear up
the ant-hills and also as means of defence.
This ant-eater was exceedingly wild and
would claw at everyone who came near its
cage. 1t was confined in a cage covered
with two thicknesses of extra heavy wire,
aud as further precaution sign was fas-
tened to the cage bearing the inscription
Glands off,
Edward W. Howe had charge of all the
animals at the Aquarium and had become so
familisr with their habits that he had no
fear and handled them all as if they were
kittens. He had been warned by his en-
ployer to look out for the ant bear, as it was
treacherous and liable at any moment to
sink its claws into his hand. BE paid no at
tention TO the repeated warnings, and con-
tinued to fonde the bear, which seemed to
have taken fancy to him, as no one else
about the place could go near it without be-
ing clawed at. On September 20 the bear
was particularly ugly, so much so that Howe
tried to pass its food through an opening be-
tween the wire and the floor of the cage in
stead OF through the door. The pan holding
the bears breakfast, consisting of meat, eggs
and carrots, was too large to pass under the
wire and Howe carelessly opened the cage
door and placed the pan inside The bear
struck at his hand violently with its paw and
aud the claws sunk deeply into Howe's
right hand. He drew it back quickly, but
considerable flesh was torn away. Those who
were about the place we're greatly alarmed,
as 1t was believed that the scratch of the ant
bear is poisonous and death is sure to follow
it. Howe, however, treated the matter
lightly and laughed at the fears OF his
friends
About week after the scratch Howe's
hand began to swell, and the swelling grad
ually extended till il affected the entire arm,
and the m sces upon the right side of his
body. He still scoffed at the idea that he
had been poisoned, but left Coney Island and
came to his home in New York Small red
spots began to appear upon his body and a
raging fever set in. He lost his appetite en-
tirely, and became greatly exhausted. He
manifested symptoms of deliIiUm, and his
friends becoming alarmed removed him to
Bellevue Hospital on October IA, where he
was assigned to the Erysipelas Pavilion. All
that medical skill could suggest has been
done for him, but he has steadily declined
since his admittance TO Bellevue. He has
not been able to take solid food, and only a
small quantity of liquid, aud has been grow
ing weaker every day. Last week he was
delirious.
Howe lies upon his back with a wild stare
on his face, and keeps up long, dismal
moan. He has no knowledge of what is
passing around him, and rarely moves any
part of his body. The red spots have left his
body, but few remain on his face. His
hesh is exceedingly hot to the touch, aud
there seems to be an inward heat that is
slowly sapping his vitality. The attending
physician has given up all hope of saving
him, and his death is expected at any time.