Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09
REMEDY FOR RABIES
Maryland Physician Believes
He Has a Cure.
DISCOVERY IN THE TROPICS
Plant With Spiral Leaf Which Does
Not Unfold.
IT GROWS IN DENSE JUNGLEs
Marvellous Effect Upon Two Natives
Who Had Been Bitten by
venomous Reptile.
DISCOVERY IN THE TROPICS
T GROWS IN DENSE JUNGLEs

What is hydrophobia? Does rabies ex-
list? II so, is there remedy for this
dreaded toxic terror? AS to the second OF
these questions there has been discussion
since a time whereof the memory Of man
runneth not to the contrary, and who
shall decide when doctors disagree?" 1t
is conceded that the world is of one opin-
ion In it's horror of hydrophobia, existent
or non-existent, and one lusty yell of mad
dog Is sufficient to create panic Of pro-
portions that should convince any doubter
that nobody wants to take chances or make
a test case of mad dogs bite In fact,
the big word hydrophobophobia is defined to
be "a morbid dread of hydrophobia, some
times so extreme as to manifest symptoms
of the real disease"
With the coming of the hot season and
the dog days" the public prints contain
numerous accounts from all sections of the
country of mad dogs and their bites and
resultant hydrophobia, which, as generally
understood, Is disease communicated by
the bite of a rabid animal. due to a spe-
cifc virus In the saliva 1t is characterized
by great disturbance of the central nerv-
Gus system. difficulty of swallowing, con-
Vuisfve dread of water and spasmodic mus
GUAR contraction or commissions. Various
remedies have been suggested and many
nave been tried from what many people
can the maidstone superstition, to cauter-
cation and the recent Pasteur treatment
DR.. Thompson's Discovery.
The universal horror of rabies and the
general attention drawn to the disease
at this season OF the year renders particu-
larry interesting the claim of DR.. Joseph A.
thompson of Hyattsville, Md, suburb of
washington, that he has discovered what
he firmly believes to be an effective rem
edy Tor the malady of hydrophoba Dr.
thompson Is a gentleman of extensive ira
vel. He Is an Englishman by BIRTH but
now naturalized American citizen, having
been In this country fifteen years He has
resided the greater part of that time at his
country place in Fairfax county, Va. He
was educated in England, and is a graduate
of the medical department of Durham Uni
versity.
He discovered the remedy for hydropho.
pa ne states, while travelling in tropical
countries In 1888, and brought it to this
country. The efficacy of the remedy was
brought to his attention in dramatic way
He saw two natives lying on the ground as
ne supposed dead; few minutes later he
observed another native blow some sort of
powder through leaf into the nostrils OF
the PROSTATE men, and in thirty minutes
they were up and walking about The
stricken natives were thought to have been
bitten by venomous reptiles.
The identity of the plant used in this
remedy, DR.. Thompson states, has not been
fully established. 1t has a spiral Hly-like
leaf, which does not unfold. 1t appears
green and moist. but is hard and brittle to
the touch. 1t grows in dense, dark jungles
in equatorial climates. He has received
supplies of the plant from Guiana South
America, and also from Burmah, British
India, and believes that 1t Is closely allied
to the herb used by tribe of Mexican In
dams and other natives of the tropics In the
treatment of venomous bites of reptiles and
animals and poisoned arrow wounds. and
that 1t is probably the plant referred to by
travellers as the spectacular remedy used
in many malades that manifest their toxic
effects on the brain, spinal chord and nerv
Gus system.
Method Of Administering Remedy.
The Thompson remedy Is administered, it
is explained, by being blown up each nos