Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-17
CASE OF HYDR0PH0B|A
Alexandria Boys Disease Is
Positively Diagnosed.
INFECTED MONTHS AGO
Treated for Erysipelas, He Had Ap-
parently Recovered.
PARENTS PREVENT AUTOPSY
Object to Removal Of Brain of Sub
ject for Investigation by Gov
eminent Experts.
infected MONTHS AGO
PARENTS PREVENT AUTOPSY

| For the first time since the Pasteur
treatment was established by the ma
rine hospital service at the laboratory
Of hygiene here the surgeons In charge
have had chance to see what they have
diagnosed as a genuine case of hydropho-
| bia.
| This was the case of the colored boy,
Thomas Brown, aged ten years. of Alex
andria. His death was reported in The
Evening Star yesterday.
Brown had not been given the protective
treatment administered at the laboratory.
Physicians Of that institution were called
in only a few hours before his death to
determine whether the boy had hydropho-
bia. From symptoms and the history Of
the case there is little doubt it was a
genuine case.
Aunt to Be Treated.
The aunt of the boy, who nursed him
during his illness. and who was exposed
to infection. was taken for treatment to
the laboratory here today.
Thomas Brown was bitten by a dog in
the first part Of August. It was only a
slight wound on the foot, so Slight that
the surgeons would not have been able
to locate the scar except for the aid OF
TIE AleAdHOTld physician, Dr. rem, lot
merly a colored clerk in the government
service. who saw the boy at the time he
was bitten
The dog. which was evidently sick at
the time, bit another dog and died within
a few days. DR.. Penn told the surgeons
from the laboratory that the dog was
seen by a veterinarian. He said the
dog probably was suffering from rabies.
The dog which had been bitten died in
about three weeks with the same symp-
Ay
incubation in animals the case became
more suspicious.
The Brown boy was taken i'll some time
ago. and was treated for erysipelas.
Four days ago he developed symptoms
that led DR.. Penn to call on the Marine
Hospital experts. They found the boy
in the last stages Of collapse
There had been recurring paroxysms
difhculty In swallowing liquids or solids,
and constant labored efforts to expel the
clotted saliva from the throat. This was
the barking." popularity supposed to re-
semble the barking of dog.
First Authentic Case.
This is the first undoubted case OF
hydrophobia that has been recorded in
Washington since the laboratory started
its work last May. 1t is Of interest to
note that the victim had not had the
benefit Of protective treatment. The case
OF his aunt will be watched with added
interest.
The hygienic laboratory has treated
about eighty cases Of dog bites up to
date. In none Of them have any symp-
toms Of hydrophobia developed.
The number of new cases brought in
for treatment has fallen off noticeabIy in
the past month. DR.. John F. Anderson,
surgeon In charge Of this work, ascribes
| 1t to the effect of the District muzzle law.
This ordinance has been In effect about
SIX months. Doctors at the laboratory
say they hope it will be renewed for
another six months. as the real effect of
the law is just beginning to be felt.
II 1t Is renewed, they say, there will
be a good chance to stamp out rabies
among dogs in Washington if not the
injection Is almost sure 10 spread again
DR.. Anderson and DR.. Joseph Gould
berger went to Alexandria Yesterday
with collection of microscope slides
and other apparatus. in hopes of being
allowed to perform an autopsy on the
Brown child. This. they say. would have
been important from a scientific stand
point Owing to objections from the
family. this was not permitted
The two dogs in the case had been
dead too long to make microscopic
examination of any value
The history of the case however
leaves little doubt in the minds Of the
surgeons that it was a genuine case of
hydrophobia which is rare enough to
be worthy of record
The laboratory has been trying to get
statistics on the subject. This had been
dlhcult owing to the fact that such
cases are not often reported in the
medical journals and the observation
of laymen is not regarded as conyinc-
ing