Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
RABIES VICTIM DIES.
Buisson System Fails to Cure Him of
HydrOphobia.


| HydrOphobia.
From the New York Tribune, today
| The death in the New York Hospital yes
| terday of Capt. George NJ Beethoven from
what the doctors assert to be hydrophobia
| is of unusual interest. Bockhoven was a
| steamboat pilot, fifty-fve years old. Such
men are chosen for their lack of nervous
| ness and their robust health. His life was an
| outdoor one, and all accounts agree that
lis habits were steady. his blood untainted
| by disease and his system vigorous. lie
! was bitten on June H. He had the wounds
! cauterized and the broken skin healed over
| them completely. According to his own
| testimony the incident caused him no alarm
and passed out of his mind altogether. He
pursued his usual business undiSturbed by
any symptoms of approaching illness until
last Wednesday, when he felt slight pain
IN his right arm He mistook it for rheu-
niass and paid no attention to it. That
night at supper he had difficulty in swal-
lowing, and the muscles of his neck and
throat became stiff and contracted. He
went to doctor, who diagnosed the case
as asthma. All night he suffered from
pains that were rapidly growing worse
and 1t was rot until Thursday morning
| that he recalled the dog bites and surmised
that they might be responsible for his con-
Qltlon In twenty-four hours thereafter he
was dead.
The man applied for relief from his pains
to DR.. Paul Gibier, in charge of the Pas
teur Institute, in sd street, but Dr. Gibier
says the case was too far gone for his
treatment by incubation to be of any use
The patient had been bitten six weeks ago
and the Pasteur system is only efficacious
when resorted to within five or six days
Or: Gloler therefor decided to try the
Bulsson system on Beethoven. Two yapor
baths were accordingly given him bI,t
without beneficial effect
Adherents of Busson assert that this
was no fair test of his system. In the first
place, they say, it was conducted BY a
physician whose interests are bound up in
the success Of the Pasteur theory. In the
second place, Buisson recommends at least
seven paths as desirable, If not essential
10 cure, and Bockhoven got only two In
the third place, the man was so far gone
ana MS system was SO thoroughly impreg-
mated with the virus that failure to save
MS lie ought not to bring discredit on any
system. This is alleged to be the first trial
OF the BulSson system in this country and
those who believe in it are sorry that it
could not have been conducted by one of
whose anxiety to prove its efficacy they
couId not harbor the shadow of a doubt
After the baths had failed to afford Book
noVen relief he was sent to the New Work
hospital, where the symptoms of hydropho-
pa became more and more marked Viscid
saliva issued from his mouth the muscles
OF MS face contracted ana remained fixed
Els mind wandered at intervals and lights
oanced before his eyes. The pains that
morphine was given him to deaden them
lie retained consciousness however, until
the last and described all his symptoms
mnutely to the doctors. He showed re-
markabie fortitude and no signs of uerv-
BUSINESS or dread of death. He died at 2:5o
am
DE- Gibier was at his bedside watching his
| condltlon. He advised the drawing of some
OF the patients blood and injecting a mix
ture OF salt and brine as a last resource
His suggestion was acted upon, but it
brought no relief. About l O'Clock. in spite
or the excruciating pain, Captain Book
hoVen desired to dictate letter to his
VIE, and DR.. Gfbier wrote as he dictated
Inc note read as follows: My Dear Wife:
know that 1 have not more than a day
10 I'VE l realize that must die l under
stand Well that am suffering from HYDRO
pnobia So don't grieve. You have been
happy many years. Now, let's talk matters
over. You are well provided for Our son
VIII take good care of you. But please
don't cry
MIS- Bockhoven. who had remained at the
hospital with the captains son until nearly
IL o clock, returned to her home, tired out
with her vigil. In spite of her WORKOUT
condition she walked the floor until shortly
after o'clock. when messenger was sent
10 the house from the hospital to inform
her OF her husbands death She faint
and Is completely Frustrated.