The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1895-02-01

Every symptom shown was
thoughtfully considered, every
searching test was applied. Speech,
action, pulse, temperature-all
were noted and carefully regarded.
So that by the morrow's dawn these
physicians were better able to pro-
nounce upon the malady, these
strange manifestations. 1t was not
the dread rabies, the awful hydro
phobia. There was no "dread OF
water" no difficulty in swallowing,
the boy first stricken had lived
many days beyond any recorded
limit. "Let us get these men OF,
science and the neighbors OF this
family together" said County At
torncy NJ. S. Burns, who had been
active and untiring in the whole
strange matter, "let US get together
before the County Judge and en-
deavor to find out what is the mat
ter with this so strangely affected
family and what is best to be DONE"
County Judge Woods was miles
away, but A. J.Conley, as Justice
OF the Peace, was near, and the law
says he may act in the premises.
Accordingly on Sunday afternoon a
jury was impaneled and the poor
unfortunates, the father and the
four children, were tried for luna
cy. The Court appointed Mr.. Will
liam O'Neal to defend, while Coun-
ty Attorney Burns attended to the
duties Of his office. Drs. Reynolds,
Bussey and Wroten were examined.
They testified to having examined
the children and the father. The
case presented many new and sim
gular features. They had examin-
cd and studied each individual and
each symptom. They did not,
could not think 1t hydrophobia, but
it was some strange mental trouble,
and it was Enthusiastically some form
Of insanity. There was for once no
differing among doctors" bud
Daniels, Of the guard, and the poor
mother also gave evidence as to
the time, OF the seizure, subsequent
actions, financial condition, etc.
One by one the affected ones were
brought before the twelve jurors,
and one by one they were adjudged
to be lunatics and ordered to be
conveyed to the asylum at Licking
ton
1t was a strange, sad scene, one
without a parallel in this or any
other county. a father and his
four children, illiterate, poorly clad,
badly nourished, the center OF a
curious crowd Of spectators, utterly
oblivious Of their surroundings, ig-
norant OF their fate. The mother
had told OF her poverty and her
struggles and how she hated to give
up her children, yet knowing twas
best that they should go. She went
drought it all bravely and with
out cry, but when the youngest
the boy Taylor, was brought in
helpless and with Insanity in every
feature she cried out in her an
guish, 80 my little baby"l II
brought tears to more than one
eye.
The Court appointed DR.. Cease
DR.. Bussey, Bud Daniels, Boil
Mead, and the wife and mother tC
go to Lexington with the father ant
the children, and they left on Mon
day mornings train. Two or three
things in this connection are posi-
BILE. The superintendent of the Lex
ington Asylum may differ RADICAL.
from the diagnosis OF our Louis;
physicians and refuse to receiv,
the patients. Or there may be SOM
new developments in the disease
something which may justify tn
conclusion that 1t Is after all reall.
hydrophobia. In the event tina
this occurs the patients will be sen
to New York or Chicago for treat
ment. Wehave no means of know
ing what will or can be done if DI
Clark, the superintendent at Lex
ington, refuses to receive them
The outcome will have beel
known before we go to press, how
ever, and the conclusion of thi
most interesting case will be mad
known to our readers.
Since the foregoing was writer
DR.. IL. O. Cease, who was appoint
, ed by the court to convey the un
fortunates to Lexington, has re
/, turned and from him we learne,
, the particulars of the journey
They arrived at their destination
without special incident and i'm
. mediately went to the Asylum. |
took DIR, Clark, the able physical
, in charge, but few minutes to ac
, curately diagnose the case. TIL
father and tho two older boys, 10
and Tom, were undoubtedly In
sane. The two younger children
Cora and Taylor, were but slight
! affected and there would be no di
. flculty in restoring them to con
| -. n,,k .,thtln Nhn Loaf.