The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-16
CONFUSED WITH HYDRoPHoBIA.
How the "Acute Mania" Resembles One
of the Most Dreaded of All Diseases.

How the "Acute Mania" Resembles One
of the Most Dreaded of All Diseases.
There has been an unusual number
of deaths recently from alleged hydro
phobia," said an insanity expert to a
Star reporter yesterday. However, we
mad doctors do not share the popular
belief respecting that complaint.
II was called in the other day to at
tend the case of a young woman who
was dying with all the symptoms of SO
called hyarophobia. She was in convul-
sions. When offered water in tin re-
ceptacle, she bit right through the sheet
metal. She barked now and then like
dog and frothed at the mouth.
"The average general practitioner
would have diagnosed the case as hydro
phobia off hand. But there was one OBJ
lection to that theory-the patient had
never been bitten by dog or by any
other animal unless it were an insect.
Not only was there no question of mad
dog, but there was no dog at all in the
history of the disease. The latter was
nothing more nor less than what the
insanity specialist terms acute mania.
Acute mania is q complaint which
manifests itself in all of the symptoms
which are commonly attributed to ny
drophobia. The patient is thrown into
commissions at the sight not only Of
water but of food, such manifestations
varying in different cases. Barking like
dog, frothing at the mouth and biting
at whatever is within reach are quite
usual. The unfortunate must be served
with both food and water In tin recepta-
cles to avoid danger. In nine cases out
Of ten death ensues.
sis there no danger, then, in being bit
ten by rabid dog? Certainly there is
very great danger. What is the matter
with such dog2 He is attacked by a
disease familiar complaint called
ssepticamia,' or blood poisoning. His
bite is likely TO communicate blood poi
soning TO the person bitten. 1t is seri-
GUS and often fatal complaint. Some
times it happens that the individual bit
ten receives so severe shock from the
fright that the nervous system is upset.
"In such case acute mania may set
" QIlIlS uI4c1u nOOlV V11O IO5 A1OcA
not berabid. To speak more accurately,
it need not be suffering from blood poi
soning. 1t may be perfectly healthy,
and yet the fright occasioned by its bite
may induce tho dangerous nervous trou-
BILE of which I speak. I think that I have
made myself clear. Take particular no
tice of the fact that acute mania may be
brought on by variety Of causes indie
pendent Of the canine species. But if
the patient has happened at any time
previous to be bitten by a dog the trouble
is at once attributed to that, and the cry
of hydrophobia is raised.
ssNow, will venture to say that one
person out Of every three receives at
some time in his or her life wound,
slight or otharwise, from the teeth Of q
dog. Frequently such injuries are in
flicted by playful puppies or otherwise
accidentally. When you consider that
this animal is the intimate friend and
constant companion of man, it is hardly
surprising that such should be the fact
You say that you yourself have been
slightly bitten on two occasions. Sup
pose, as is quite possible, that you were
taken with acute mania, barking like a
dog, foaming at the mouth and exhibit
ing a disposition to bite. Would not
your afflicted relations refer the symp.
toms to one Of those dog bites? OF course
they would. If you died, you would be
advertised in the newspapers as victim
of hydrophobia.
"What tell youis notmerely theory
of my own. 1t represents the belief Of
experts in nervous diseases generally
Washington Star.