Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-03
FIVE MINUTES WITH A MAD DOG
A Physician In q Dark Cellar with q
Syringe Of HydrOcyanic Acid.

Last week I received orders to 60 to the
public house, In Soho, and poison q
large retriever belonging to the landlord. My
master had seen the dog during his rounds
and found 1t In a dangerously rabid state.
filled small bottle with b. drocyanic acid, and,
taking syringe, went OF at once to see about
1t. Arriving at the house, I stated my business,
and was handed over to the pot boy to be con-
Quoted to the dog, which could hear bowling
every few seconds. There being no yard TO
the house, they had chained the dog down in
the cellar to a staple in the wall. 'Esa very
bad case, SIR said guide, ''an' I'll be glad
when it's all over; for, although he was a great
pet with us all, an that fond of the kids you
never SEE its awful to see Inn not know any of
a-f1ying at us. Think ell suffer muchf There e
goes! ear i'm. All day long e owls like that"
much pain. and descending some steps, we
passed through room in the basement that
was dimly lit by small and grimy window.
Cases OF wines and spirits were ranged against
the walls, and We could hear the tramp Of the
thickly shod customers i'm the bar or taproom
just asa above our heads Opening a door, we
only by q small window In the room we had
just left, as It shone through the now open
IL ssy
Thinking there was q window in the room. I
pushed the door open, and Immediately heard
half growl of the poor beast whose eyes could
see against the far wall cleaning through the
dark. Window there was none.
on aa sFag h
him In the darkf' ~ 'pp'e = 20" f'''''n
Thought 'ad a match" said the boy, fum-
bling In his pockets; there's gas jet just
. had no matches. 80 sent him up stairs to
get some, and, awaiting his return, sat down
The dog seemed uneasy, and, fancying the
light through the doorway annoyed and dis
tressed him, pushed 1t to with my hand. The
vi COZ mn a arA ta
had been to ask his mistress IL she would like
to have last look at the old dog. and sat
lar was close, and the smell Of the wet sawdust
on the floor was most unpleasant Ciank went
the dogs chain against the wall or the floor. as
say, what was my Grand there. fhen the
movement ceased for a time, or, partly absorb
ed in my thoughts. ! tailed to notice it. The
against my leg. Looking down | saw two
glartng eyes Just at my knee. The dog was
loose, the staple having worked its way out of
the damp and yielding mortar.
For second or two nearly lost conscious
ness. My heart seemed TO stand STILL but by
an effort kept from going OF into faint
as live. was alone In the dark. with this
rabid beast rubbing about my legs-first one
out who was. Then he rested his nose on my
knees and looked straight up into my face. L
sat like a statue, knowing that at the slightest
knowing (who better9j that such bite In his
advanced state of disease was almost certain
death, and q horrible death too. Nerving
myself, sat perfectly still, calculating as well
as could my chances Of escape. Presently the
dog put first one paw, then the other, on my
knee, and, standing on his hind legs gently
rubbed his head against my breast, then over
my arms, and then commenced TO explore my
facet shut my eyes and felt his nose pass several
times across my face, covering IL with saliva.
Yet dared not move. expected every instant
he would seize me; the very beating OF my
heart might disturb and annoy him: and felt
that, come what might, must ding him of and
Suddenly he ceased rubbing against me, and
appeared to be listening He could hear the
steps Of the pot-boy descending the ladder. !
also could hear II, and knew not whether 70 call
down to my knees again, still listening; and as
the light OF q candle streamed through the
crevices OF the badly fitting door he crept into
the far corner Of the cellar, evidently dreading
dash at the door, swung 1t open. and, banging
1t to behind me, sank more dead than alive, on
q case near the wall. Seeing my state, the man
brought me quickly . nip OF brandy, and I
pulled myself together. All this time the dog
the door, and tearing at Ii in his mad en-
deavOf 10 get at Us. Steadying myself as well as
could, placed the light on a pile OF cases,
and, nlling my syringe with acid, opened the
furiated beast rushed at the opening. and as
he did SO discharged the contents OF the
syringe into his open mouth. In q few seconds
all was over. When went up stairs found
cred with the saliva nom his mouth. felt sick
and faint, and looked-so the people said-white
a. . ghost; In fact, / could hardly stand.
The dog had killed was bitten by the mad
dog that ran down PiccsdiIly some three weeks
W. PocxLrKorox.