Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-22
FEARS RABIES GERMS
Physician InocuIates Himself al
 Marsh Autopsy.
INFLlcTs CUT WITH scALPEl
Instrument Infected by Use on Body oi Hydrophobia Victim - City Expert Fourth to Dread Results of Giving Home to Waif Cur.

Hydrophobia Victim - City Experi
 Fourth to Dread Results of Giving
 Home to Waif Cur.
 New York, May 2o.-By a strange freak of fate the hydrophobia germs whose unmistakable presence dramat- ically condemned to death William H Marsh, the Brooklyn manufacturer. in. oculated another man through Marshs lifeless body.
 Dr. Ira Van Giesen while performing an autopsy on the victims brain acct dentally cut his arm with a scalpel that had just been buried in tissues that swarmed with the deadly bacilli.
 In the presence of half dozen awe stricken witnesses the doctor took the most heroic primary precautions he knew. Then he hurried to his hospi- tal the Willard Parker, for the first Pasteur treatment.
 Coolly and hopefully, he began his fateful wait, just as Miss Edna Thomp. son, Marsh's bookkeeper, and Ramsey Marsh, the manufacturers son, are waiting.
 Four Victims of Cur.
 With Marsh himself dead without a bite (the dog merely licked his hand), his son recalling similar dread caress, Miss Thompson stiIl scared by bite and now Dr. Van Giesen directly inoc- ulated by the knife, it looks as though it were a horrible mistaken kindness that impelled the original victim to give q home months ago to the waif cur that he named, oddly, Happy"
 Dr. Van Giesen is the city's expert on hydrophobia. He manages the citys Pasteur station in the Willard Parker hospital. He was called on to make the autopsy because Brooklyn officials wanted to learn If Marsh really died of hydrophobia. They thought perhaps the man had died of fright caused by the verdict he received at the Pasteur institute. You have only three or four days to live" or the drugs given to all leviate his sufferings killed him, they thought.
 0O, W ith NOtOuCI DICWCls Ois A1tiAii F. Hartung and several newspaper men, the expert went to Marsh's home, where the body lay ready for burial It was damp and misty outside, and the room had only half light. but there was no delicate work to be done, and Dr. Van Giesen barred his arms and chiseled into the skull
 scaIpeI Laden With Germs.
 Substituting scalpeI for his coarsef instrument, he then cut away large portion of brain tissue. This, he could tell from superficial evidence, was fair. ly alive with the germs of rabies. He laid his scalpel aside on the edge of a table while he put the brain tissue in a receptacle. Next be intended to sever a portion of the spinal cord, which the germs also affect in hydrophobia.
 He looked for his knife. In the gloom he did not see 1t. He turned about for another. one arm behind him, swinging close to the table edge
 And then every man in the room faced him with quick start, for sharp, startled exclamation broke from his lips. It was pain; it was alarm.
 That carbolic acid, if you please, MT. Coroner-quickw he said tensely.
 What is itT' demanded Coroner Brewer and Dr. Hartung together. They and the rest stepped quickly to his side. But there was scarcely need < to ask. for there had been the ring of silver and steel on the floor.
 I've cut myself with that knife. Mighty careless of me. I'm badly handicapped" the expert answered jerkily. Don't waste time-the acid quick.'
 Pours Acid Into Wound.
 Turning his arm to the light, he re. vealed gash an inch long. Into this, without a wince, he poured the bub- bling. burning carbolic acid, the odor of which filled the room. Dr. liar. tung, working in speedy silence, had already tied towel above the elbow of the wounded arm and now was drawing the knot tight with all his strength.
 Now the nitric acid. Mir. Coroner" directed pr. Van Giesen.
 Not in its pure form" exclaimed Brewer. hesitating with the bottle of powerful corrosive.
 Stronger the better" the physician replied Let it burn my arm. Rath. CT that than take any chance"
 Drop by drop he let the nitric acid fall on the wound until a circle of . flesh as large as a half dollar had been eaten away. The arm that held the bottle was as steady as a semaphore arm. The others in the group, pale and nervous. were affected ten times as much as he.
 "Now if you'll help me bind this ur we'll go on with the work" was the experts calm announcement. The oth- CTS begged him not to. but he insisted It took only a few minutes to remote the spinal cord. He picked 1t up. washed his hands and put on hIs coat
 He ran for a car. hurried across in a subway train and in less than an hour had taken his first Pasteur treatment in the Willard Parker hospital He never lost his nerve for an instant. and the hospital surgeons who assist ed him said he treated his own case as impersonaIly as he would have treated that of any chance patient.
 T do not expect any bad results" Dr. Van Giesen said. T will take tho Pasteur treatment for the regulafios