Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-22
MADNESS ENDS IN DEATH
Charles E. springmann, a Young Washing
tonian, Dies of Hydrophobia.
Touching Regard for His Mother
While In the AKOnies of COnvulsfOn
His Terrible Suffcrings.

Charles E. Springmann, t he young man
who had contracted hydrophobia from the
bite of dog. as told in yesterdays Star,
died last night about 7:3O o'clock, aftel
suffering untold agonies from the disease.
His death was comparatively peaceful, he
having quieted down to wonderful extent
an hour or so before he passed away. Soon
after o'clock the physicians in attend
ance noticed a change in his pulse and
few minutes later he was dead.
Although it was thought the patient was
unaware of his real condition, some hours
before his death, with efforts to control
the spasmodic movements of his hands.
pitiable to behold, he wrote on piece OF
paper the words, hardly decipherab!e:
Mad dog. I know. Don't tell mother
Directly after this he went on into an
other terrible CONFUSION, and when he had
partly recovered from this he seized the
pencil again and traced on the sheet OF
paper the words: 1T will Kill me-
Was OccasiOnnlly Conscious.
At times before his death Springmann
would return for brief intervals to con-
seriousness and show that he recognized
members Of the family by smiling. Then
his face would be distorted by the awful
spasms, he would froth at the mouth, his
eyes would roll convulsively and he would
put his hands to his mouth in a vain ef-
fort to bite them, but would never, even
in his most violent moments, try to attack
any of those in the room. SeiEing a pencil
suddenly yesterday afternoon he attempt
ed to write a message on his brotner S
shirt front, but could simply clutch the
linen and Crumple it out of shape. The
breath of a person standing rear would
throw him into convulsiCns horrible to be-
hold. Once as his brother stood near him
the patients distress at being breathed
upon was so great that he was asked;
Charlie, it hurts you for me to be so
near, don't it?"
The unfortunate boy tried to nod his head
in response, mutteIed something in which
the one word terrible was discerntbie
and relapsed into another CONFUSION.
Sympathy of Friends.
Yesterday the family received messages
from q number OF sympathizing persons,
telling where "madstones" could be found.
and declaring that if used they would be
found efficacious. 1t was too late, how
ever and nothing could be done.
The flneraf~ arrangements have been
fixed for tomorrow afternoon at o'clock.
when services will be held At the house.
but all the details have not been completely
arranged. Father O'Brien of St. Peters
Catholic Church will probably officiate at
the house, and several of the young friends
of the deceased will act as pallbearers. but
yet they have not been selected. Inter-
ment will be in the Congressional cemetery.
LIE Roy Paine,a young man who lives near
the Sprnlgmann residence. was with the
young man when he was bitten, and was
also slightly bitten himself on the hands
by the same dog. Paine went to his res
cue, and in pulling the animal away was
bitten on the right hand, blood being drawn
from the wound. He states that he does
not fear the disease and has so far
suffered no inconvenience from the bite.
The spot on Springmann's left hand where
he was worst bitten, has turned blue, as
If a charge of powder had been fired into
the flesh.
Remedy for Hydrophobia.
A reader of The Star. who has been in
spired by the terrible case Of young Spring
mann, writes that for thirty years q farm
er named Fry, residing near Allentown.
Pa. has treated hydrophobia with unvary-
ing success by a simple method. The pa
tient is kept from exciting Influences Of
every Sort especially from those caused by
the visits of sympathizing friends. The
medicine is to be prepared by taking one
ounce Of elecampane root powdered; one
tablespoonful of madden, and one quart of
rev milk. and boiling them all together
slowly Qn a water bath II possible) until
reduced to a pint. The dose is: One wine
glassful cnce a day for three days; then
internit three days; then repeat, and in
termit again, apd again repeat; that is.
nine wine glassfuls are taken in ALL and
there are three intermissions.
In support Of the efficacy Of this treat
ment 1t is stated that thirty years ago a
at Germantown BY a rabid dog; thai Mr.
Reed was treated by an eminent physician
and died of hydrophobia. while Mershon,
under Fry's treatment, never suffered at
ell. A young man named Jacoby, and &
deug1ter-in-law of John Boyer, at the cor
ner of Mill street and Che.teh avenue, in
Allentown. under similar treatment. re-
covered from the dreadful disease about
twenty years ago ard In 1853 a policeman
SO far gone with hydrophobia as to be
held ir the carriage In which he was
driven through Germantown to Mr.. Fry's
residence. was also treated with entire
success.
A number Of additional cases are quoted,
IT. all of which the remedy described Is
claimed to have effected complete cures.