Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-03-07
PECULIAR CASE.
A BOY AFFLICTED WITH HYDRO.
PHoBIA.
Eight Years Amer He was Bitten By
aDo1.

WOOSTER, O., Feb. 2T.-About eight
years ago David Barkey, then two and
One-half wears Of age, sou of a we'll
known Milton township farmer, Jacob
Barkey, was bitten on the upper lip by
the family dog. The wound healed and
nothing was thought of the matter.
Eighteen months ago the dog showed
signs of paralytic fits and was killed.
Several weeks ago the boy, now nearly
eleven years of age, became i'll, being
afflicted with an ailment similar to
paralysis of the muscles, which the ply
sician who was called in pronounced
muscular rheumatism. The symptoms
became more alarming and finally de-
veloped into
A CASE OF GENUINE HYDROPHoBIA,
And was termed such by a number of
physicians who were called in cOnsulta-
ton in regard to the case. The first
stage of the boys illness Is now said to
have be MO form ofparalytic hylropho-
bia, during which he manifested no
canine characteristics, but was pros
trated by partial paralysis Of the mus
cles.
Several days ago the boys illness as
sumed another stage of the affiiction,
and the attending physicians who were
in quandry in regard to the case,
saw that young Barkey was suffering
with dydrOphObia. He was subject to
paroxyms which would be of about
twenty minutes duration, and would
begin in peculiar way. The patient
would
PANT LIKE A DOG,
Sticking out his tongue and frothing at
the mouth. He would occasionally
simulated the bark ofa dog and would
snap at everything within his reach.
Pillows and pieces of cloth were thrust
into his mouth and he would finally ap-
pease his desire to bite. His condition
became so serious that it became nee
essary to
LASH HIM TO THE BED.
When the real trouble was learned,
various remedies for that affiictiOn were
tried and the paroxysms have become
less frequent. He had one paroxysm
yesterday and then rested easy, appar-
emily, until this afternoon, when he
had two in quick succession. He lies
securely bound and while in one of the
paxoxysms he writhes and twists in a
manner.
Many physicians in this community
are watching the case with great inter-
est, and hundreds of persons have called
to see the boy, one hundred and five
strangers being at the house yesterday
afternoon. Although the paroxysms are
less frequent.
HIS RECOVERY is NOT ANTICIPATED.
in attendance say that his
death will occur just as soon as the ac-
ton of the medicines are overcome by |
the poison in his system, which is ex-
pected to eventually take place, but |
lust when is not definitely known.
The supposition was at first enter
tained that the boy was insensible to |
his surroundings, but for the past few |
lays he has surprised his attendants by |
what transpires in the room |
1uring his paroxysms. The sight or
touch of water throws him into convul- |
'ions, which are horrible in the ex-
RENE. -
Tonight Barkey was seized with hor-
'ible cOnvulsions and o paroxysm for
me hour and a half, during which his
writings were awful to behold. He
to get one of his hands in his
mouth and bit off two fingers. The
oaroxysm was the most severe vet ex-
1erienced and death is beginning to
asten its grip on him.