Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-23
Studying the Cause Of Young Spring
mann's Death.
BRAIN EFFECTS OF HYDROPHOBIA
DR.. GIazebrook Objects to the
Presence Of Reporters.
THE FUNERAL SERVICES


today the body of a person who had
died with genuine, well-developed case of
hydrophobia. The subject was the body
of Charles E. Springmann. the young boy
who died Wednesday night as the result
of the bite of a stray dog received some
time ago, as reported in Wednesdays Star.
and the medical profession Of the city are
much gratffied at being able to point to
an operation of this character.
When 1t was first known that the at
tending physician DR.. Willard F. Thomp-
son, wished to make an autopsy. both Mr..
Frederick Springmann, the boys father,
ard Mrs. Springmann strenuously objected.
on the ground that they did not want the
remains of their beloved boy disturbed In
any way. After hours of argument Mrs.
Springmann gave in when the plea was put
forth that it was not only for science but
for the benefit Of other mothers who might
have children afflicted with the same dread
disease. Then it was that she succumbed
to the inevitable, and Mr.. Springmann fol-
lowed her opinion.
The autopsy was set for IL o'clock this
morning, but it was nearly IL when the
physicians who were to engage In 1t ar
rived The operation was performed I'M
der the directions of Dr. Glazebrook, the
acting coroner of the District, and he was
assisted by DR.. Willard F. Thompson, the
family physician of the Springmans; DIR.
H. H Barker, DR.. w. c. Woodward, the
health officer of the District; DR.. J. T.
Winter and Prof. V. A. Norgaard of the
Agricultural Department.
The body of the boy was taken from the
casket where it had reposed. and was
placed on the operating table. The top of
the skull was then removed and the brain
exposed. This was found to be highly con-
sested, even in as far as eighth of an
inch. The medulla oblongata was then
moved. This part of the brain is the seat
of the dread disease. and will be subjected
to tests. in order to find out the peculiar
nature of the germs existing therein. 1t
will be tested on various animals and in
other ways, and the results will be made
known through the health office. When the
autopsy was concluded and the remains
placed in the casket again not the slight
est evidence of the operation remained, SO
nicely had the operators done their work.
The First Case.
DR.. Thompson stated after the operation
that within his recollection it was the only
genuine case of hydrophobia that had Of
fered the means to make an autopsy in the
history of the city. He stated, however,
that as the autopsy had been done after
the body had been embalmed the fluids
used in the latter operation might
act negatively on the results by counter
acting the effects of the poison that eX-
listed in the body of the subject He could
not tell whether this was the case at this
time. but it might turn out SO in the tests.
OF course, no practical results could be OBJ
tanned now, and nothing could be learned
of the germs, their power peculiarities,
until after the proposed tests had been
made.
DR.. Thompson further stated that young
Springmann developed the evidences of
having what is called hydropneuma phobia,
which means afraid of both wind and
water, and that these were symptoms
shown by young Springmann during the
awful agony preceding his death. He was
as much afraid of air he was of water,
and this Is about the only record
in which such symptoms have been devel-
oped. He did not show any of the primary
stages of the disc asses, but gave evidence
Immediately Of well-developed symptoms.
One thing to be commented upon during
the course of the autopsy was the fact
that the reporters were kept out of the
brook giving orders for their being shut
out. This was done, notwithstanding Mr..
Springmann's desire to have them admitted
ard his strong argument to that effect. MIR.
Srringmann insisted that as he had given
over the body for the cause of science that
the autopsy should receive sufficient notice
to insure its being heard of, but the doctors
In charge did not see it that way, and the
reporters had to go.
Mr.. Springmann has been in receipt for
several days past of a number of COM
mmicatons, all bearing upon the subject
of hydrophobia but they do not seem to
the progress of the disease, and If they
had, as one of Mr.. Springmann's sons re-
marked, they all came too late"
Funeral Services.
The funeral was held almost Immediately
after rhe autopsy, at . o'clock. A large
number of the friends and acquaintance
of the family-and they are legion-were
present. Father O'Brien Of ST. Peters
Church conducted the services, after which
the remains were Immediately conveyed to
Congressional cemetery for interment with
out stopping at ST. Peters Church, as was
at first proposed. The pallbearers were
chums Of the deceased. They were Louis
Diggins, James ]. Grace. Arthur Specht,
Richard Quinn. LIE Roy Paine and Walter
Robinson OF these, LIE Roy Paine, Walter
Robinson and Arthur Specht were with
Sprtngmann when he had the encounter with
the dog. LIE Roy Paine, 1t will be remem-
bered, was also bitten, and he will go to-
morrow to Baltimore for treatment.
The parlor was completely filled with the
floral offerings, which were exceptionally
handsome, and which completely hid the
newly made grave at Congressional GENE
terry from sight.
Father O'Brien conducted the usual Cath
Ollie services at the house, and made some
touching illusions to the life and character
of the dead boy.
want" ads. in The Star pay because
they bring answers.