The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-21
DIED In AGONY.
Forty Sleepless Hours Before the
Rest in Death,
Little Albert Benz's Final Terrible Suffer-
iugs From Hydrophobia.

Little Albert Benz, the five year-old
Brooklyn boy, who suffered from hydro
phobia died at 8 O'Clock yesterday morning
st. Catherine's hospital, Williamsburgh
lie had been awake and conscious for 40
hours. Opistes and bromides enough to
kill dozen men had been administered
to him to alleviate his agony, but with
out effect The word of DIR. Paul Gibier
that this was a genuine case of the
disease, and that there was no hope of
saving his life, was taken, and no treat
ment other than the administration OF
these drugs to relieve his suffering was
tried. His death was due partly to asphyx-
latlon, the result of laryngeal spasm and
partly to exhaustion. IL had heen predict
ed hours and hours before 1t came. Usu-
ally death from the diselse comes In lS
hours or two days, but this boy clung To
life with great tenacity, and IT WAS Just
four davs after the disease nrst manifest
ed itself that he died.
AT about 10 O'Clock on Tuesday evening
the violence Of the child's spasms had
decreased because he was physically ex-
haUsted, aud the doctor said he probably
would not live an hour. The child had
been awake then rs hours. lie spoke
with difficulty to the VIII .te-gowned nurse
who sat beside the crib telling him
stories and trying 10 turn his MIND from
the pain he suffered. He knew he was
going to die, bat he didn't know what
death was. He feared il. Ills big soft
black eyes looked into those of the nurse
appeaiingly. She kept his lips moistened
with damp cloths. Occasionally he would
moan: Ion, mamma, mamma. Come,
mamma. Please come ~ He was hungry,
but food placed In hls mouth only strang-
led him. he sound of dripping water in
Is.aN. a...~ L.
aft r spasm, and the faucet was turn ed oil
hastily. He clutched the clothing and he
bit his lips again aud again until the
blood came. When he becams calm he
woul take the nurses hand in his and
stroke It. The mute appeal for help and
relief from his sufierings that came into
his eyes sent the tears down the nurses
cheeks. Once or twice she tried to leave
the room for moment, tut the chila's
cries, half Of pain, ialf OF fear. brought
her back to the bed. Then he would tell
her W rat a good boy be would lie when
he got wei.
Don't cry" he said to her onse or
twicc; 'pll tie mammas' little man. 1t
don't hurt; don't cry, - and for five min
utes, suffering though he was, he would
try not to show it-a pitiable effort that
usually would end in another spasm worse
than the last. Not once during the night
dld ne close his eyes, nor did he at any
time lose consciousness. More drugs were
administered from time to time, but for
all the apparent effect they had they
might as well not have been given. Doc
tors came in and looked at him and said
his vitality was wonderful. He would
permit only one of them near him. That
was llr. Robinson, who had attended
him and won his childish confidence.
lie would plead with DIR. Robinson for
his "mamma. 81 want TO sr-.rmamma
IA l.N a
Now and then he would ask in the same
way for his father. They were emotional
people, and the doctor said il would not
do TO let them come. so, among strang-
ers, cared for. ii is true with all the ten
derness and II the skill that a most ia-
vored child could ask, yet, without the
sight of a mothers face, the sound of a
familiar voice, or the touch OF another's
hand, the little fellow passed his last
hours.
1t was about 8 80 O'Clock when he talked
last tins with the nurse. She laughed
and told him lie would be we'll pretty
soon, maybe in an hour or so. The child's
eyes lighted up with hope, and then, for
the Arst time In 40 hours, the lids dropped
and they closed apparently in sleep. FIVE,
ten minutes passed. There was a twitch-
ing Of the shoulders ana an uneasy move
ment. One hand felt for the hand OF the
nurse and held IL. Ten minutes more.
The boys eyes opened. There was look
OF fright. The nurse smoothed the hauu
she held for just few minutes. Then
she stood up, lifted the sheet, and drew it
up over the head.
Half an hour later the body was moved
to the dissecting room. The doctors
who had had promises of nm Invitation to
the autopsy were sent for. They came in
hurry. Tne boys father came and ask
ed when he could take the body home.
He was told he coCld take it after the
autopsy, and he weHtaway. The autop-
sy showed nothing particularly character
istic. There as some degeneration in the
liver ard the kidneys. The brain appenr-
ed to be normal and there was none of
the degeneration in the spiral cord that
often is seen IN cases like this. The
child's BODY was taken home early in the
afternoon.
IL Is strange fact that nobody knows
what dog ii was that bit the child or
what became of he dog or whethe il had
developed rabies Lefore the biting or sf-
terward. Nothing at all is known about
the dog. Mr.. Benz, the father OF the
child, is continuing the rastur treatment
at the inst tute and the doctors say he
was probably inocula ed with the saliva Of
the child when kissed IL Oh the way
to the Pasteur Institute where the doc
tors "A first old him n taLya