The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Mrs. Francois DeboViS
in Critical Condition and
Husband Also Near
Death.
AFFLICTED FAMILY
IN DIRE DISTRESS
Lad Bitten by Mad Collie
Causes Greatest AnX-
iety to Stricken
Parents.

Almost frantic from the fear that
her eight-year-Old son, Isadore, will
fall a victim to the rabies, as the
result Of having been bitten by the
mad collie which terrorized the
downtown streets yesterday, Mrs.
Francois Debovis is in a critical
condition at her home, PA Seventh
street southwest. Mrs. DebOyis has
been i'll for several weeks with q
severe attack of pleuro-pneumonia.
and the shock to her nerves as a
result OF the accident 10 her son
makes her recovery problematic-
Mr. Debovis. who IS a photographer.
has also been i'll for several months and
is just now able 10 leave his bed. II IS
said he has consumption, which may
cause fatal results AT any time
Father and Mother Stricken.
With both his father and mother al
most al the point OF death in their
home. the lad. Isadore, has no one to
care for him. His parents are unable
10 stir from the house and the little
fellow Is left to get treatment as best
he can.
Emergency Hospital physicians have
taken charge of the case and are doing
al that they can 10 prevent hydro
phObia from developing.
'Oh," walled the mother when seen by
a Times reporter last night as she Tag
iu her bed. If they could only do some
thing for my boy. If they could only
cure him Friends have told me that
the Pasteur Institute in Baltimore could
possibly relieve him OF all dangers from
hydrophobia. Il ! could send him there
l should feel that he vas in safe hands
and would be cured, but all that costs
money and Mr. Debovis and are too
poor TO send him away"
Mrs Debovis turned and buried her
head IN the pillow, sobbing, The bed, 4
trunk, two or three chairs. and several
small articles Of furniture constituts the
furnishings OF the scant apartment
where she and her husband are so crit
ically i'll a kerosene lamp and stove
furnish the light and heat for tie room.
Windows are drawn down tightly and
the place is so lily ventilated that it IS
almost impossible 10 breathe therein.
The boy sleeps in the room with his
father and mother. SO that they can care
come seriously i'll
Struggle With Mad Canine.
Little Isadore Debovis wss plying in
front OF his fathers place Of bdsi9ess
yesterday morning, wncn the rabid coll
lie saw him in mis- furious ru~n down ths
street, With a snarl, the beast le3ped
at the child's throat and succeeded in
getting its upper teeth in Isadore's
cheek.
The force Of the attaek threw The Ily-
tie fellow 10 the ground, and for a Sec
ond he lay there stunned. The mad
canine had released his hold on the
cheek and was preparing for d spring
at the child's throat just IS he revived
enough 20 scream for help.
Frightened almost u death the Hello
chap fought at he beast with all lhe
strength of his small body
Just as the dog was about to make
another effort 10 fasten his teeth IN the
boys throat a man lashed the beast
over the head with a club, and he was
frightened away
The animal ran yelpmg down the
street. while the little boy YVES taken
into the home where the deep wound
was washed and bandased. Physicians
at the Emergency Hospital were at once
summoned, and they treaLed the wound
to prevent hydrophobia.
Tries to Comfort Mother.
Yesterday Isadore had been playing
about as usual Nothing seemed 10
bother him except the sobs Of his
mother. to whom he would run every
few minutes and try 10 comfort her.
He did not seem to realize, however,
that she was almost frantic for fear
of what the next few hours might hold
in store for her son.
When Mrs. Debovis told the story to a
Times reporter last night, her suffer
ing was pitiable. SCbs shook her frame
when she realized that because she
could not send her son to the Pasteur
Institute. there was a possibility Of his
developing a fatal maIady.
Cant something be done for himT''
she walled. ''Oh if some one would only
take my boy TO that hospital where
they can cure him, 1 should be eter-
nally grateful to them.
why should all this afiiction come
wien I am too III TO get out Of bed ana
take care of my chiid?' she sobbed.
4 know of no way that he can get
there unless some one viii send nim I
cannot"
Meantime, the little fellow. all unc0n-
scious of the alarm which his condition
causes, plays about the ho;ns and tries
TO comfort his mother.
The deepest sympathy is expressed