The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-06
FIVE MINUTES WITH A MAD DOG.
A Physician in Dark Cellar with q Syringe
of Hydrocyanic Acid.

of Hydrocyanic Acid.
w. Pocklington. in st. James's Gazette.
Last week I received orders to go to the
Britannia public house. in Soho, and poison
large retriever belonging to the landlord. My
master had seen the dog during his rounds, and
found it in a dangerously rabid state. | filled q
small bottle with hyd-ocya nic acid, and, taking
a syringe, went off at once to see about
It Arriving at the house. 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. les very bad
case, sir, said my guide, IAN I'll be glad when
it's lover; for, although he was great pet with
US all, an that fond of the kids you never see
it's awful to see i'm not know any of US. but
when we goes near i'm TO have I'm come flying
at us. Think ell suffer much2 There e goes!
ear i'm. All day long q owls like that"
l assured him it would soon be over without
much pain, and descending some steps, we
passed through q room in the basement that was
dmly lit by small and grimy window. Cases
of wines and spirits were ranged against the
walls, and we could hear the tramp of the thick
ly shod customers in the bar or tap-room just
above our heads. Opening a door, we passed into
another room; this was lighted only by the small
window in the room we had just left, as it shone
through the now open door. Hes In there.
said the pot boy, pointing to another door IN the
wall opposite.
pushed the door open, and Immediately heard
the rattle of chain and the hoarse half howl
half growl of the poor beast. whose eyes
could see against the far wall cleaning through
the dark. Window there was none
Why earth didn't you bring lght9' l
asked. angrily; you don't suppose can poison
him in the darkP
Thought ad a match" said the boy. FUN
bling In his pockets; there's gas jet just in
side the door"
had no matches, so sent him up stairs to
get some, and awaiting his return sat down on
an empty key near the door.
The dog seemed uneasy, and fancying the
light through the doorway annoyed and dis
tressed him. pushed it to with my hand The
boy was some time gone Il found afterward he
had been to ask his mistress if she would like to
have last look at the old dog), ami | sat there
thinking over the job. The air of the cellar was
close and the smell OF the wet sawdust on the
floor was most unpleasant. Clank went the
dogs chain against the wall the floor,
he moved uneasily about, wondering, | dare say,
what was my errand there. Then the movement
ceased for time, or, partly absorbed in my
thoughts, failed to notice it. The next minute
| started, feeling something rub against my leg
Looking down, | saw two glazing eyes just at my
knee The dog loose, the staple having
worked its way out OF the damp and yielding
mortar.
For second or two nearly lost consciousness.
My heart seemed to stand still, bat by an effort
l kept from going off into 81 faint. l shall
never forget the next few minutes long
as live. | was alone in the dark. with this
rabd beast rubbing about my legs-frst one
and then the other. if ne were trying to find
out who | was Then he rested his nose on my
knees, and looked straight up into my face.
sat like statue, knowing that at the slightest
movement he would probably seize me, and
knowing (who betterO that such a bite in his
advanced state of disease was almost GER
tain death, and horrible death, too.
Nerving myself, sat perfectly still.
esslculatings as well as l could, my
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 face 1 shut my
eyes. and felt his nose pass several times across
nv face, covering it with saliva. Yet dared
not move. l 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 fling him off and make a
dash for the door.
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 it, and knew not whether to call
to him or keep silent. The dog now dropped
down to my knees again, still listening and as
the light OF the candle streamed through the
crevices of the badly fitting door he crept into
the far corner Of tho cellar, evidently dreading
being put upon the chain again. Then made
dash at the door, swung it open, and banging
it to behind me, sank, more dead than alive, on
a case near the wall. Seeing my state, the man
brought me quickly nip of brandy. and pulled
myself together All this time the dog was
growing furiously on the other side of the door,
and tearing at it in his mad endeavor to get at
us. Steadying myself as we'll as | could, placed
the light on pile of cases, and, filing my
syringe with acid, opened the door about
two inches AS I expected, the Infatuated
beast rushed at the opening; and as
he did so l discharged the contents of the syr-
inge into his open mouth. In few seconds all
was over. When l went up stairs / found my
trousers, vest, coat, hands and face covered with
the saliva from his mouth. felt sick and faint.
and looked-so the people said-white as ghostg
in fact could hardly stand.
The dog had killed was bitten by the mad dog
that ran down Piccadly some three weeks since
and had only shown symptoms of madness dur
ing the last few days
GOODBYE, FLOOD ROCK.