Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-08
DYING OF HICCOUGHS.
The Hiccoughs Began While a Barber Was
Lathering His Chin-In Ten Weeks the
Victim Has Lost 81 Pounds Physicians
Are Interested, but Inefficient.

NEWARK, y. j., Feb S-Ten weeks ago
john Carberry of % Webster avenue was a
strong, robust medium sized man weigh
ing just l47 pounds and in the enjoyment
of perfect health. Today he is a mere
shadow of his former self, weighing less
than 90 pounds and hardly able to talk,
much less move
He is lying on a couch at his parents
home anXiously awaiting death to relieve
the agony he endures. His sufferings are
solely due apparently to an attack of hic-
coughs which has ba1f1ed the skill of seven
eminent physicians of Newark and appears
to grow worse daily, despite their efforts,
as we'll as the one hundred and one home
remedies usually applied in similar cases
The most peculiar phase of Carberry's af-
Fiction is the manner in which it was con-
tracted.
Began In BARRIERS Chair.
Ten weeks ago yesterday he stopped at
his barber's. according to his usual custom
on Wednesday, to get shaved. While ap-
plying the lather, Carberry says, the bar
Der used unusual force on the chin, and he
WAS suddenly seized wit an attack of the
hiccoughs. 1t became so violent he was
forced to leave the chair before he had been
shaved.
After slipping water and trying several
other old fashioned remedies without OBJ
tanning relief, Carberry left for Lalor's sa-
loon on Belleyille avenue, where he was
employed as Il bartender.
He was rapidly growing worse, and I'M
able to obtain relief he went home, and aft
er his mother had tried mustard plasters
on the chest and throat, potato poultices,
sugar and vinegar and several other house
hold remedies he summoned Dr. Chapman.
The latter prescribed and cheerily said
when leaving that the patient would be all
right the following day. But he wasn't,
and then DR. Wendell was called in con-
junction with DR.. Chapman. Another day
passed without relief, and DR.. Corwin was
added to the list of attendants without any
better results.
The doctors were puzzled, the patient
grew Respondent, and the parents becOm-
ing greatly alarmed added in turn to the
list of physicians Drs Lyon, Zeh, Towles
and Hawk The seven physicians held con-
sultation after consultation, applied all
known remedies, internal and external,
without affording the patient any apparent
relief.
Prayed For Death.
So it continued from day to day, with
the patient rapidly growing thin and ema-
ciated, unable to sleep, eat or drink, and
the hiccoughs recurring ut regular inter
walls of 80 seconds, until the sufferer actu-
ally began to pray that death might come
to his relief The doctors say that such a
case is absolutely without precedent.
They presumed he might be affected
with Inflammation of the stomach and
have used hot water as an emetic and
douche, but without affording the patient
even temporary relief. The case has at
tracted widespread attention, and hun
dreds of visitors call at the house daily to
ascertain the condition of the patient. The
outcome is watched with great interest by
medical men, and every one of standing in
the vicinity has been consulted as to the
probable end of the malady.
Carberry, notwithstanding his occupa-
ton. is a temperate man and was always
regular in his habits He worked as a ship
carpenter until five months ago, when he
began to tend bar.