The times., 1897-07-24
AUTOPSY ON sPR|NGMANN
Doctors Examine the Body Of the
Hydrophobia Victim.
RESULT SOMEWHAT DOUBTFUL
Process Before the POST
Mortem May Have Killed the
Poison Gerns-F Funeral of the I'm
fortunate Young Man-Mr. Paine
to Take the Pasteur Treatment.

An autopsy was performed yesterday on
te bod y OF thela late Charles E. Springrnann,
the young man who so sadly fell vic
tim to hydrophobia. This is the first
time that a post mortem has been held
in Washington ia a case OF death by h ydro-
phobia and much interest is being taken
in the outcome by the medical profess
sion. After much persuasion the family
of the deceased finally consented to tn.
post norten inquiry III the interests OF
science, but the consent was not given
until after the injection OF the embalminS
fluid and this fact may produce a mega
tive result owing to the ingredients of
of the eInbalming fluid counteracting the
poison.
The autopsy, which was performed at
noon. was under the direction OF Acting
Coroner GIazebTook. and was participated
in by Drs. H. H. Barker, W. @. Woodward,
j. T. winters NJ f. Thompson and Prof.
V. A. Novgaard. The brain was first ex-
posed and was found to be highly congested
The meduna oblongata, part of the spinal
u,
then taken from the body and will be
used under the direction of the health
office for the cultiva ton Of the germs with
which scientific experiments VIII be
made. Ii is thought very probable, how
ever, that the disease germ may have oeen
affected by the embalning fluid and the
cultivation of the germs may lie entirely
unsucce ssfui.
There has always existed in the minds or
medical men grave doubt as the actual
existence of hydropreuno-phobia- OF
water aud ir-and 1t is hoped that this
autopsy win be the means OF dispeIing
some OF the doubt which exists as TO this
| terrible malady.
Shortly after the autopsy, at 2 2o'clock, the
| funeral services were held at the family
residence, No 401 South Capitol street.
| The house was crowded with the relatives
aud friends OF the family, and the services
| of the Catholic Church We're conducted By
| Rev Father O'Brien, of st. Peters Church
| The white casket, in which reposed the
remains of the deceased, was almost
/ hidden from view beneath the beautiful
flowers which had been sent by sympa-
thetic friends as an evidence of condol-
| ence with the afflicted family.
After the services at the house the re-
mains were taken direct 70 Congressional
| Cemetery, where the interment was made
! The deceased was borne TO his last resting
place by six of bis young friends, three OF
| whom were with Iii W hen he was bitten
They were Louis Diggins. James Gray
Arthur Sprecht, Richard Quinn. " alter Rob-
/ inson and LIE Roy Paine.
LIE Roy Paine, who was bitten by the
same dog which caused the death Of Eoung
| Springinann. Bas expressed his intention
| 70 place himself under the Pasteur treat
| ment.
| The brother OF young Spnngmann stated
20 The Times yesterday that DR.. Greenfell.
OF this city, who is considered an authority
on such subjects, expressed the opinion
| that four-fifths of the dogs in the city are
| now suffering with what is known as
dumb iabies." and that dog owners
should Re exceedingly careful n their treat
ment OF dogs.
| This statement was published In The
Evening Times and called forth vigorous
| in canine diseases
Or. French is q graduate of the Nc
Gill University and Royal Veterin ary
|
chair of canine medicine in the veterinary
department Of Columbian University He
stated that in his practice, which IS
confined exclusively to diseases of dogs
he had rot found a single case OF rabies
in the District.
IT here has, ho wever,' he stat ed
''been brought under my notice several
cases among Maryland dogs and particu
larly those on the BIadens burg road
would suggest that the police keep a
sharp lookout for unlicensed dogs com
ing from the counties.
1T is often declared that hydrophobis
IS an imaginary disease, but this is er
roneoIs Two years ago a dog sup
posed to have rabies was killed in Wash
ington
| Several rabbits were inoculated with tht
virus obtained from the dogs spinal core
and brain. At the end Of three week:
time the rabbits died of rabies. This seems
to dispose of the imaginary theory witt
regard 20 the disease The animal above
referred to had bit several other dogs, ant
| to the owners I wrote and warned them o
the danger In one case the dog de
vcloped rabies shortly after and as it had
been confined was soon put where it eoult
do no danger. strong argument fol
vivisection may be deduced from this. /
may he news to some persons that tht
same course of treatment prescribed 70
human beings has been successfully useC
in treating dogs affected with rabies. Val
liable dogs have been in many Instance
taken in ar the PastcuI Institute in New
York"