New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-05
A LADS PECULIAR ILLNESS.
STRANGE SYMPTOMS FOLLOW THE BITE
OF A CAT.
THE BOYS MALADY BELIEVED by SOME PLY
sIcIANs TO BE HYDROPHOBlA. BUT IT SHOWS
SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOCKJAW, WITH \ SINGULAR
AFFECTION OF THE LUNGS
THROAT
AND THROAT.

AND THROAT.
William Grcenwad. sixteen years old, of No.
100 Lewis-st was bitten six weeks ago by cat
which had been seized with fit. The wound.
which was in The palm of the left hand. and
a slight one. did not bother him until Wednes-
day. after that he grew steadily worse, and
Yesterday upon displaying all the symptoms of
hydrophobia, removed to Gouverneur Hos
pltal Three other persons who We're bitten by
the cat at the time have not been bothered by
their injuries which have entirely healed.
Greenwald and his parents lived with Samuel
Klein and his family at the address given. Mrs.
Klein IS a sister of William. The Klens keep
a cigar store and live in the rooms. The
whole family was in the place one evening about
six weeks ago The pet cat took fit In front
of the house after being teased by some OF the
children in the neighborhood. 1t rushed wildly
into the room where the family was, growing
and splitting like mad; it ran hither and thther,
every one climbing on chairs and tables or seek
ing other points of safety. Mr.. Klein threw q
cup at It, but missed it. Mrs. Klein thought it
needed pettlng and. rashly picking it up, began
to fondle It, 1t scratched the palm OF her right
hand She screamed with pain, and her brother
William ran to her aid. all the others seemingly
being panic-strcken and unable to run away o.
aid themselves in any manner.
BITTEN BY THE CAT
William caught hold Of tla frenzied animal. 1t
still splitting and crying. The cat attacked MN
and at the first encounter sank its teeth in the
palm of his left hand. The boy screamed with
agony but succeeded in Sc wing his sister by tear
ing the cat from her arm and throwing 1t 10 the
floor 1t attempted to escape to the street, ana IN
doing so Williams father tried to kick it, The
bit his right leg and ran back into the store
James Busch, who lives next door ana had
heard the screams. ran in just at this time, anu
learning that the eat the cause OF the
trouble chased II around the cigar store until 1t
sought refuge behind the counter. He tried to
dislodge it, and did so. but it bit him in the right
leg and ran away. When II got outside. crowd
of men and boye stood waiting for it, The terri
fed animal lodged here and there, escaping the
gathering until it came to the sewer at Lewis
and Third SITS. 1t was killed there.
The Greenwalds and Kleins. who had been Bit
ten as well as Busch. went to drug store,
where Dr. c. Kamenof Of No. 312 East Fourth
st. cauterzed their wounds. All apparently
healed rapidly.
PECULIAR SYMPTOMS.
On Wednesday william who attends Gram
mar School No. %, Sheriffst. complained OF
feeling III. He stayed home and In the course
Of the day vom!ted a quantity Of peculiar mat
ter On Thursday his symptoms grew worse and
could not be explainei by DR.. I. Berger, OF NO.
124 Columbia-st On Friday the crisis was
reached The boy could not swallow. His throat
was fearfully ami painfully contracted. he hsa
very great difficulty in breathing His face
assumed singularly red color. An excruciatihg
pain which started in his left hand crept into his
arm, to his shoulders ana down MS let slur
His lungs also troubled Dr. Berger ana
DR. Edward Kessler. of No. 10 Lowis-st.. mad
a careful examination of the boy. but under
stood nothing Of his symptoms until they were In
formed that the boy had been bitten by the cat
They Immediately declared that the boy was
suffering from hy lrophobia. Some Of the symp-
toms were those of lockjaW. but there was No
doubt that the boy had hydrophobia they said
Other physicians who saw the boy, thought that
il was merely of lockJaw.
William became much excited yesterday when
any one approa ched him. and showed signs OF be-
coming violent If the person persisted in coming
near him He was removed by suggestion OF the
physician last night to Gouverneur Hospital
where he was placed under the care of DR.. Cronk
Drs Berger and Kessler sent note to DR.. Cronk
asking that the boy be transferred as speedily as
possible to the Pasteur Institute. II this Is not
done this morning. the physicians said that they
themselves would see that the boy was sent there
At the hospital last night DIR. Cronk said that
the boy was not Ill as when he wac first given
into his charge. The chances are in his favor. it