The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-14
HYDRoPHoB1A AND FRIGHT.
Deaths Attributed to the Former
Really Caused by the Latter.
From the PHILADELPHIA Press. Junes 8.


Really Caused by the Latter.
From the Philadelphia Press. June s.
The principal event in the convention of
the State Medical Association yesterday
occurred in the afternoon. 1t was the dis
cussion over the existence of hydrophobia.
The debate was interesting and valuable
and while there was a great difference of
opinion on certain points, all agreed that
the public were unnecessarily scared over
hydrophobia; that even alleged cases were
OF great rarity, and that in the ma lority of
cases In which death resulted from dogs
bite hydrophobia was not the cause OF death
All the popular symptoms of hydrophobia
were shown to be common to many forms
of commissions tetanic and commissions re-
sulting from hysteria.
DR.. c. W. Dulles, who had been ap-
pointed by the society to investigate hydro
phohia, read his report for the year. Pas
teurs methods he said, were not attracting
the same attention they did year or so ago,
and are in a fair way to die out. Pasteur
had only treated 306 cases the previous
year, he said, where he had formerly
treated 300 q month. Pasteur's method
had no effect in decreasing the mortality of
those who fall into terror over hydrophobia
Pasteur knew nothing of hydrophobia. In
the last year there had been Is cases in
this country of alleged hydrophobia. He
specified several cases, one being the case Of
a man who dreamed he died of hydropho-
bia, and on awakening was taken with con-
vulsions through fright and died.
1.-The fear is worse than'the bite, said
DR.. Dulles, "for not one of the animals in
the cases mentioned gave evidence that they
had the rabies. The living in dread of
death from hydrophobia is often the cause
of death. Too often the diagnosis of the
case is made by tho laity and confirmed by
the doctor. There is nothing more sense
less, more cruel, more calculated to cause
death than the senseless test of water" DIR.
Dulles spoke Of the exaggeration of forci-
BILE restraint supposed to be necessary in
hydrophobia cases, and denounced the use
of narcotics. "Hydrophobia is a misno-
mer," he said, land is not specific inocula-
BILE disease. | do not deny people fall into
a certain state after being bitten by mad
dog but l do deny that the state is pro-
duced by canine virus. Fright and other
factors throw the patient into condition
net into a disease. Wherever thefe is lii
tie talk there is little disease. Hydropho-
bia was unknown in Pennsylvania this last
year and belief in it will follow the belief
in witchcraft.n
Dr. Shakespeare Of this city dissented
from the opinions of DIR. Dulles, and said
he spoke only from the standpoint of
medical antiquarian and a clinician, and
did not speak from laboratory knowledge.
DR.. Shakespeare held that the teachings of
laboratory experiments were in favor of
belief in hydrophobia beyond the power of
controversy. He said the work there
proved the existence of rabies as an infec-
tious disease in the animal kingdom, and
the strong probability was that it was fec
tious in man as well as in the lower ami
mails, for the same symptoms were OBJ
served in both. The assumption that man
is an exception to the rule that hydropho-
bia is infectious, he said was arrant non
sense
DIR. Traill Green, who is almost so years
of age, made a strong speech treating hy-
drophobia as a myth. This state is not so
prevalent as people believe" he said Mad
dogs are rare, very rare In all my expert
| ence | have never had a case, and those
heard of and inquired into turned out to
be humbugs l want to see the people
delivered from this scare. It's wonder
we live at all we're so afraid of everything.
People die Of the fright, and it is DOCTORS
business to keep his patients from being
scared
DIR. Rahter of Harrisburg, gave the case
of a young girl which he considered real
case Of hydrophobia.
DR.. C. K. Mills said that the so-called nv.
| drophobia symptoms could be explained in
| other ways as resultant from other dis
eHSeS i no COuNuiblOItS might result from
the tearing by a sharp instrument, and
would be Of the nature of lockjaw. He
said: ave ought to do all we can to re-
| lieve the public of fear.n DR.. Frank Wood
bury said he considered it a settled thing
that hydrophobla and rabies did exist, but
that they were rare diseases. Most people
die of fright, he said, especially young
women. He was not in favor of the so.
ciety continuing DR.. Dulles as investigator
any longer.
DR. Green said that DIR. Dulles was doing
a good work. The fear is broadcast" be
said, Tin every ones mind. Even councils
show their fear by passing ordinances to
muzzle dogs in the summer time, when
there are fewer cases of alleged rabies than
| at any other time. 1 don't want the people
to be scared, and l say such action Is non
sense.n
| DR. Dulles concluded the debate. He said
| that there was too much dictation from the
| laboratory. He did not deny that rabies
may be propagated, but said such propaga-
tion was wholly artificial. ~ do not deny
| that there is such disease az rabies, but
| that disease is marked by desire for Quiet.
rest, repose, and water, while the alleged
symptoms Of hydrophobia in man are lust
the opposite.
By vote DR.. Dulles was Continued
another year, and DR.. Shakespeare was in.
vted to reuort ON laboratory work during
| the same time.