Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-12
Capt. Edward Rabe SuC-
cuInbs to Hydrophobia.
Forgotten Dog Bite Causes
His Death In |ntirmaTy.
Victim Ignorant Of True AiIment
Until the Last.

New YORK, June H.-Capt. Edward
Rabe, 81 years old, commander of the
quarantine tug James w. Wadsworth,
died yesterday afternoon in the Smith
infirmary, Staten Island, the surgeons
declare, of genuine hydrophobia. This
conclusion was reached not only be-
cause Of the characteristic symptoms,
but because the patient was absolutely
ignorant of the nature of the ailment
with which he was afflicted.
The fatal termination would not
have been FASTENED either by fright or
by auto -suggestion-causes that were
advanced in the cases of William
Marsh, the wealthy Brooklyn inventor,
who was informed that he was Il vic
tim of rabies and that death was in
evitable.
Capt Rabe believed himself to be
suffering from rheumatism and had
forgotten apparently, the bite of a dog
five months ago. He never referred to
it during his illness and he was not
| undeceived as to what he believed his
! condition to be.
The case is believed to be unique in
| this particular aspect, and if the
autopsy reveals the peculiar changes
in the texture of the brain cells that
| indicate inydrophobia, physicians say
the question will be settled definitely
| that canine madness is wholly physical
| and not the result of mental sugges-
| ton. DR.. Charles Pearson, chief of the
| hospital staff, was convinced on Tues
| day that he had to deal with a case
of rabies so far advanced that death
was almost certain within "a hours. In
| this progECsis his associates and an
expert from Philadelphia agreed, but
not the slightest intimation was given
either to the sufferer or to his family,
except to inform his wife that her hus-
band was a very sick man.
| Capt. Rabe first complained of feel
ing i'll last Friday. His legs began to
swell and he laughingly declared that
he must be getting Old and rheumatic.
Liniments and hot cloths were applied,
but the swelling was not reduced. 1t
became more pronounced on Saturday.
DR.. Pearson was summoned on Sum
day. The physician could not detect
any symptoms more serious than a
heavy cold and prescribed according
ly. On Monday the muscles Of Capt
Rabies throat became rigid and he was
~ SWdllOW. Later III the Ody ne
had a violent chill and his right side
became numb. The symptoms were
those of paralysis, but when DR. Pear
son saw him early on Tuesday he or
dered that the patient be removed at
once to the hospital.
The progress of the malady was
rapid after the patient was admitted
| He became deliriouS and exhibited the
signs of rabies. The rightly of the
muscles of the throat became more
pronounced. DIR. A. H. Doty. health
officer of the port, and Rabies superior
officer, visited him, constantly. The
hospital staff agreed that the case was
beyond hope and that nothing could
be done except to relieve the periods
of delirious pain with opiates. Capt
Rabe died finally Of exhaustion.
Before confirming his diagnosis DR.
Pearson had made careful inquiry
without exciting. alarm and discovered
that Rabe had been bitten by stray
dog. but that the wound was So trlv.ai
he did not have it cauterized He found
also that about the same time a dog
had bitten a horse belonging to DR.
Doty The horse died and it's brain was
sent to the laboratory of the board OF
health for examination. The report
was that the horse had died of rabies
1t is believed that the same dog that
bit the man bit the horse.