The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-09

| WIFI MIN aI len3In, enuedNOTlDS W TO
lieve him of the gnawing apprehension
that possessed him. He asked me the
evening of the 9th what thought as to
the dog being mad. | answered him
encouraginglY, but. having known the
| dog for long time, | was convinced
that there had been a metamorphOsis OF
his nature and disposition, and my
| fears of rabies were very strong. L
urged every remedy, every prevention,
including the use of the maidstone; for,
if the story of superstition. if you choose
to term it, should not be confirmed
when the stone should be applied, there
might, at least, come respite to the
poor mans troubled mind 4 medical
work containing chapter on hydro
phobia was obtained and studiOusly
read by him; and he constantly showed
that he was in distressing despair,
antedating the miseries that were to
fall on him.
THE DISEASE COMES ON.
No premonitory symptoms were felt,
however. until Thursday, MAY %, when
be complained of darting pains from
his hands to his arms. and an itching
and dull sensation about the places so
fearfully lacerated. But these passed
awav. Monday, June /, he rode to
town with a neighbor and frequently
caught and rubbed his hands and arms.
complaining of darting pains that went
from his hands up his arms and met
between his shoulders. He also said he
felt chilly and remarked that he believed
that he was going to have chill. Re
turning home he went upstairs and lay
down. Some time passed. and his wife,
going to the foot of the stairs, called to
him several times without a response.
She assembled the stairs and entered the
room. Toelle rose to a sitting posture
and turned his back on her. She crossed
the room and found him crying bitterly
with his face buried in his hands. His
only reply to her question was: 81 feel
that awful disease creeping over me. L
know | am going mad and shall die"
The day dragged on; the body was not
in pain, but for the mind the gloom of
night was cOme-a hopeless darkness
had settled there. He retired with the
others of his household.
The coming of Tuesday morning, June
,, ushered in the twenty-seventh day
counting from the time of the fearful
encounter with the dog. At three o clock
of that morning the deceased awoke in
a struggle for breath and called for a
drink. When his eyes fell on the water
handed him he instantly threw up his
hands with the exclamation, ''FOr Gods |
sake take it awayr' He became COM
posed in a moment or so and rested |
fairly well until he arose. He COM |
planned considerably and vomited free
ly. The physician was sent for and |
came in the forenoon. He was puzzled. |
He said but little of anything. and moth
ing that was definite. He departed, but |
in several hours returned. accompanied |
by another member of his profession. |
They viewed the patient, said nothing, |
did nothing. and departed. The after
noon wore away. and the restlessness
and changed appearance of the man be-
came more perceptible.
FEARFUL PAROXYSMS.
And now we near the hour when the
dreadful poison in his system broke loose
with horrible violence. How can | de-
scribe the deep agony of that night,
when every nerve of the poor fellow
that accompanied each death-struggle
were heartrending and distressing be-
yOnd the power of language. At five
o'clock he sent for his nearest neighbor
to come and prepare his will. He
was entirely rational; dictated and
signed the document disposing of his
property. He gave directions about his
matters with noticeable clearnesS and
At seven o'clock he was
sitting in chair in his yard, with his
family and several neighbors around
him. He complained of being cool. His
wife took a small shawl and made the
motion to lay it over his shoulders.
Then came the first scream. and the tor
turing struggle that came at short in
5eryalS until two hours before his last
breath. He sprang from the chair and
jumped about violently calling to those
present to tie him. Ropes and straps
were quickly procured. and after seat
ng him he was securely fastened to
tree. Every three or five minutes came
those terrible screams. He was heard
of a mile away. At the
same time he would pant and struggle
as though sutfocating. splitting and
necessarily. He was entirely
rat onal and conscious, calling those
present by name, and describing his
pains, except during paroxysms of
torture. In an hour it was dec ded to
take him into the house. A storm was
and altogether the setting-in
Of that night was to the attendants of
the dying man one the reader may never
wish to experience. We cut the ropes
that secured Toelle to the tree, but were
careful to provide against any effort he
might make to attack one of our num-
Ger. Once in the room, to which he
walked with some support, we laid him
On the bed, and at once securely
him down. leaving him
free to sit up, use his hands,
and change his position. The room
was somewhat close, nothing being
open but the door. He screamed as
soon as he lay down. struggled for
breath. and complained of suhocat;on.
took my hat. and, leaning over the
bed, gently famed him. o, but what
cry and what a scene! There were tor
ture and agony in the extreme. and a
scream of Nor Gods sake. don'tr'
The windows were thrown open at his
request, but the first touch of the cur
rent of air threw him into paroxysm
Of torture. He called for water. but as
soon as he looked at it his muscles con-
tracted, his teeth clinched. and he pre-
sented the picture of rigidity and terror.
But water he must have; his throat is
parched. slime and saliva are choking
L = \ IL ]