Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1896-07-02
Hydrophobia as Simulated Dis
ease.

ease.
The following letter is sent out by
the American Viviaection Society:
Mr.. ED1roR:-We have observed with
regret numerous sensational stories
concerning alleged mad dogs and the
terrible results to human beiugs bitten
by them, which are published from time
to time in the newspapers. Such &C
counts frigbten people into various
nervous disorders aud cause brutal
treatment OF animals suspected OF mad
ness; and yet there is upon record
great mass OF testimony from physicians
asserting the extrsme rarity of hydro
phobia even in the dog, while many
medical men OF wide experiences are OF
the opinion that if it develops IN human
beings az ell, it Is only on extremely
rare occasions; that the condition of
hystericel excitament in man described
by newspapers as 'hydropdobia' is
merely series OF symptoms, due usual-
" to 2 dreed of tbe disease, such dread
beng caused by realistic newspaper ana
other reports acting upon she imagine
lions of persons scratched or bitten by
animals suspected CT rabies.
The late Dr. Hiram Corson, whose
pracsice extended over 8 period Of
seventy 90 years, during which time
he searched diligently for the disease ip
man OF animal, wrote urdsr date Of
JaungFy 10, 1896, 4 hevs never had
real cass OF bydFophobis.
De- Trail Green. 9 physician ike D..
Ooraop, accurate il observation, careful
in statement, and whose practice also
extends over 3 long psriod, writes under
date OF January %, 1886, Il have never
had 3 cass of hydrophobis, nor have
ever seen q case" in She prsetice Of
other physicians.
Dr.. Matthew Wood, who hes been 10
quest Of the disease for twenty years, |
and who during two summers person
ally visited every case reported 10 Phil
adelphis, asserts that he never saw
hydrophObia either in man or animal,
aud although six years ago, at the con
clusion Of L paper on the subject read
before large u, disnce, he offered $100
to any person bringing him such pa
tent, yet SC far ne one has claimed the
rewsrd. Dr. Woods furthermore adds
that although be mas questioned many
physicians on tbs eubjset he has not
YET found one VINO has ever seen hydro
phobia either 10 man or animal
A The Philadelphia dog pound, where
on an average, over six Thousand 10000
vagraut dogs are teken up annually,
and where the catcheTs and keepers are
frsqus ntIy bitten while handling them,
not one CASE of hydrophobia hes occur
red during It's entire history OF twenty
i've years, in which time about 10000
dogs were banded
Toe weli-known specialist, DR. Ed
ward Q. Spitzke, Professor of Medical
Jurisprudence aad Of the Anatomy and
OF the. Nervous System in
ahe New York Pos5-Graduate School Of
Med cine. and President OF the New
York Neurological Society. writes: >
Much of the observation of suspicious
logs is made through optics disturbed
1y fear, and by persons ipcomretent to
nterptst what they see" ''Noswith I
'tauding every effort" hs continues, 4
made by the writer to secure the OBJ
srvston OF rabies in man or deg, rot 8 9
Jingle opportunity hiss offered itself 4
luring the laes eight years (tbe period /
# his observatory
The record Of the Lerdos Hospital
few years ago ebo~ed 2G6S persons p
,itten by-angry dogs More CT them b
developed hydropbobis ST. Georges o
hospital. London, records 1000 persons
'itten by dogs supposed to rave been .,
aad. No case CT bydFophobia. \
In the record Of all ths diseases which
ave occurred at the Penusy lysnie . .
Hospital IN 2 hundred aud forty yeas
My two cases which were supposed to
9 hydropbobis have occurted. O5e Of
hese, however, she only ooe Submitted
o bacterioiogical test, ord rot sDti' a. z
he dieguosis "bydrophob a. ord H.. p
nunicipal authorities refused 80 cees 1t
ne eeath as ore from thbs aieeass. re
Finally, Dr. Cherries w Dulles, Lee in
urer 90 5ha History OF Medcine st the 5
Of Psnneylyanie, who hss 6
sd the honor Of berg rfpaatedly sp- Is
eintsd By the Medical Sscieties- OF the re
'tete 10 Investigate rabies, AID has ~ ~
cad various papers on the subject be- II