The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-08
A SURGICAL SENSATION.
A CASE OF HYDRoPHoBIA SUCCESS
FULLY TREATED.
The Desired Results Brought About by
Ammonia, Whisky and Extreme Heat
"A Mans Bite Worse Than a
Dogs.

New York correspondence of the Globe Democrat
The majority of people look with great
horror upon dog bite. 1t makes little
difference whether the dog is rapid or not,
a dread comes with the bite and gives rise
To unpleasant thoughts and sensations,
even il there is no bad effect from il. The
fear is mainly due to education. As soon
as the child leaves the cradle and gets to
running around on its own hook, it hears
the cry OF 'mad-dog," and is taught to
believe that dog bite is the worst thing
i'm the world. The child grows up with this
fear and in turn teaches it TO his children.
This wholesale fear is ridiculous. Because
one dog in million will become vicious,
turn up his nose at water, and perhaps be
tortured into adelirious state, il isnonsense
10 condemn all the other dogs in the world.
A real rabid dog is about MS rare MS the
genuine hydrophobia is in man.
Dog bites are not pleasant, OF course, and
no one bankers for them, after one good
experience, but there are so many persons
bitten slightly in the hand or on the arm
by dogs in play or anger, from which no
evil resulted, that they are now looked on
by the medical profession in the same way
rs a wound from any other cause. II is
only when there is u considerable destruc-
ton OF tissue that the bite OF n dog not
rabid becomes dangerous, and the danger
depends largely upon the temperament
Of the person injured.
While thousands thus recover from dog
bites without anything worse than tenn
porary inconvenience, yet it is an estab-
lished fact that the bite of a man, which is
not thought to be dangerous is a hundred
fold more TO be drealed than the bite OF a
n I'll Al. L. M a
case the dog bite will heal more rapidly
and there will be fewer constitutional dis
turbances. The bite OF u human being is
very troublesome. The recovery from a
wound is always OF lingering nature. and
seems TO 60 along on its own responsibility
without regard TO the remedies used.
Death sometimes follows from human bites
given while the owner of the teeth was in
an intense passion, condition resembling
some stages OF rabies in the dog.
THE MYSTERIOUS nYDRoPmoBIo POISON.
The microscope, advanced chemical ex-
periments and the intelligence OF investi-
gators have discovered many things that
few years ago were thought TO be unknow-
able, but with all the increase in knowl-
edge and the facilities for investigation the
hydrophobic poison remains rs much a
mystery as ever. The effect OF incubation
has been carefully studied TO determine, il
possible, the resemblance OF the symp-
toms TO those which follow the use OF we'll
known poisons, but the hydrophobic
poison stands alone. II has symptoms
common 10 all poisons, and few others
which belong to IL alone, but II is mystic
rious and unknown in its nature rs in its
action.
The effect Of the bite Of human being
Is well shown in the case OF Augustus
Spencer, who was admitted 10 Bellevue
hospital ~ n patient last week. Spencer is
a machinist, and got into a row with fell
low Workman on December 2 abouta girl
that showed preference for Spencer.
During the melee Spencer was thrown
down and hs assailant, who had wrought
himself into a passion, bit of the end OF
his nose and fastened his teeth 10 firmly
in his neck that the jaws had TO be pried
open with an iron bar. Spencer suffered
severn pain from the bites, much greater
than is usual In more extensive decorations.
The wound in the neck was directly
over the carotid artery, and II the teeth
had been a trifle longer IL would have been
severed. Spencer went 10 a ncighboring
drug store, where the wounds We're cauter-
lied and dressed. lie was confined TO his
house Tor several days and then went back
TO his work. The neck wound appeared
81 be healing well until about two weeks
after the injury when IL became the seat
OF an active Inflammation. The neck
swclled and the wound had livid appear
ance. The nose did not seem 10 be ms
much affected There was a sensation Of
numbncss In the neck, which soon in
sslf lao ttsl gla..t ts.
preston 10 Spencer that his head was of
his shoulders.
THE PATIENTS TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
lie became apprchensive and got an
idea that something terrible was going 10
happen aud he would have 10 suffer
greatly His face wore the look Of utter
despair that is common to people suffering
FROM nclancholia. lie was unable 10 sleep
for any length Of time, and when he would
fall into dozc he would wake suddenly
gasping with terror at some horrible
dream. lie complained all the time
Of a peculiar twisting pain in the nape
OF his neck. lie suffered from nausea
all the time, aud frequently yomited a
green, offensive fluid. Though he had
these and many similar symptoms, the
nature Of his malady was not suspected
until spa-m in the throat followed an at
tempt 10 drink water. Repeated trials
with different fluids produced the same
effect, with the exception that the spasms
were moro intense and covered longer per-
iods. In a few hours after the spasms be.
gan Spencer was In such a nervous condi.
ton that the slightest motion any
where In the room would produce
commissions In the facial, thcoracic
and abdominal muscles A lcnd from
the internal regions could not look
worsc than he did when his face was dis.
torted. All these conditions pointed 10
hydrophobia, aud, rs there was no history
oi dog-bitc IN the case, Il could only
have como from the bite Of the man, aud
This was remarkable indeed. His suffer.
ings dcthroncd his reason and made him q
raving maniac, and he was taken 10 the
hospital, biting, swapping, bowling and
splitting like mad dog. His face was
alternately rcd and white, and
his eyes seemed 10 be bursting
from his head. lie was con.
SANITY calling for some one 10 kill
him, and his strength was 30 great that he
could only hc controlled 10y putting him
IN 4 STRAIGHTFORWARD. The spasms lasted
about fifteen minutes, and each one was
followed BY greater collapse, and Il W
only question Of little while when the
patient would dieifnot relieved. lachcsis
hyoecyamus and stramonium were given
IN large doses, besides chloral and opium,
without having any pcrccptible effect.
CURED ny AMMONIA, wmsRY And nEAT,