The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-16
ATTACKS OF RABIES
CHALK MEIKEL APPARENTLY SUI
FERs FROM HYDROPHOBIA.
Yet He Has Never Been Bitten by q
Dog-A TRANCE Medical
Case.

A case that will probably attract wide
spread attention in the medical world is
that Of Chalk Nickel, of Mapleton, who is
i'll with symptoms of hydrophobia, but who
was never bitten by a dog or any other
animal. From his birth, nineteen years ago.
he has been in very poor health, and add
ed to this his mind is slightly deranged.
His parents had little control Of him, and
the little money that he obtained slipped
through his hands. About five weeks ago his
brother Frank. aged twelve years. was Bit
ten by a mad dog, but he has recovered from
all effects and is apparently in as good
health as he ever was. Chalk is of an ex-
citable nature, and the mad dog scare and
the biting Of his brother had a peculiar eff
feet on him. He acted excisediy at times,
and his family and the immediate friends
thought that he would go violently insane.
However, his condition changed to a nor
NAL state and the matter was forgotten.
Two weeks ago he went to visit his
grandfather, who lives in Jolietville, a small
town twenty-five miles northwest of the
city. Last Sunday evening, while running
over a rocky road, he stumbled and fell
heavily on a large stone. A large bruise
was made on his body just above his heart,
and homemade salves and other remedies
were administered to the injury. He was
not seemingly otherwise affected until a
day or two afterward. Then he began to
act as if afflicted with the rabies. He was
seized with commissions and snapped and
bit at those who came around him. This
was followed bye a barking that was so
natural that it was hard to distinguish 1t
from that of a dog. This spell lasted only
a short time, and he apparently recovered.
A short time afterward he was seized with
a like attack, but the symptoms of n.y.
| drophobia became more marked, as he be-
gan to froth at the mouth. Six physicians
| were called in to attend him, and they pro-
nounced it a genuine case OF rabies.
Chalk's relatives whom he was visiting did
not remember of him having been bitten
by any animal, and did not notify his par
ents of his condition, as they thought he
was suffering with a severe attack of fits.
On that day his condition reached an
alarming stage, and his parents were in
formed that he was suffering with the
rabies.
Mr.. Nickel went to Jolietville and
brought him home. On the way he had no
i diculty with his son and he decided that
the reports of his condition had been exag-
gerated. AS soon as he arrived at his
home. however, the SYMPTOMS of rabies re.
summoned. He found the sufferer lying ON
the bed, frothing at the mouth and bark
ing n1Ignati In a "a I snsn m anS bite ne and shf the strength
of several men was required to hold him in
bed. Chalk discharged froth from his
mouth to such an extent that those hold
ing him placed cloths over their faces to
keep it from touching any part that would
allow the virus to work into their systems.
DIR. Carter administered narcotics and
/ Chalk fell into a semi-conSciouS state. On
arousing he startled his physician and those
around his bedside by talking with them
as he did when in his normal condition.
The attendants tried to turn the drift OF
| conversation from his illness, but he sud
denly began to talk about being fatally III.
One of his boy companions told him that a
young lady acquaintance had sent him a
beautiful bouquet of flowers. His father
told him the young lady's name and Chalk
said: "well, she ought to have brought
them to me a few days later" "Why?' he
was asked. ooh, WELL" was the reply, II
will be dead then and the flowers could be
that hopeless strain while he had the use
Of his faculties.
, Presently he was siezed with another at
ton of those around him was directed to
other application of narcotics was
given him and tm ne T. tt fen con asieep.
but the twitching Of his muscles was not
noticed. and DR.. Carter had hopes that his
1 patient had recovered from his singular at
lacks or that they would be less violent.
DIR. Carter will undoubtedly call in physi-
clans to help make a diagnosis of the case.
He believes that Meikeps condition is due
to a highly nervous prostratlon, ana tnat
horrors of the mad-dog scare of several
weeks ago and that he is suffering from
an imaginary case OF hydrophobia. The
Doctor is of the opinion that his violent
spells are but severe attacks of h~ysteria,
vet he admits that the supporters of the
theory that ~hydrophobia is an imaginary
disease have a strong proof in Meikefs case
@f thnf- ha1fnf