New-York tribune., 1908-05-22
RABIES KILLED MARSH
DOCTOR MAY HIVE VIRUS.
Prediction of Successful Cure in
Near Future.

William H. Marsh, the Brooklyn manufact-
! urer, who died Wednesday night had rabies
beyond a doubt. That fact was established by
an autopsy performed yesterday by DIR. Ira Van
Giesen, assisted by DR.. Emil F. Hartung- The
result dispels the charges of opium poisoning
and auto-suggestion.
While performing the operation DR.. Van Gle
sens wrist came in contact with the point of
| knife used at the base of the brain. A small
puncture the result. II cauterized n
half hour later at the Research Laboratory, at
10th street and the East River. Dr. Van Giesen
is one of the bacteriologists there. He will
treat himself in the rabies department. of which
DR.. D. w. Poor is the head. While the knife
contained virus, DR.. Van Giesen is sure that
there is no danger and is as cheerful if the
instrument had been sterilized.
In discussing the Marsh the doctor said
that through cerebral surgery it would soon be
possible, he believed. to the victims of
rabies. Experiments made by himself and DR..
Poor in flushing the brains of dogs with immune
serum, he said, gave his prediction a practical
foundation He believed that had Mr.. Marsh been
proStrated several weeks later his life might
have been saved.
year ago he and Dr. Poor trephined the
skull of a dog which had rabies. flushed the
brain and prolonged life for four days beyond
the regular period Since then the fluid has
been improved until, it is believed, the effective
strength has been obtained
I'VE tried the immune germs in
test tube" said the doctor. The germs were
killed. In flushing the brains only very small
opening in the skull is necessary. The liquid is
slowly introduced until the brain is flooded.
There is why we should not succeed.
Why" said the doctor, enthusiastically, 1t
will mean snatching persons from the very jaws
Of death. 1t will be one of the greatest triumphs
of modern times. L preparing a paper on
the subject The immune serum using
is most effective, and keeping it a
secret for the present"
Dr. Park the head of the laboratory, declared
yesterday that something radical should be
done to remove stray dogs from the streets of
the city. He said that the disease increas
ing rapidly in the East. Regarding treatment
by the Department. of Health, he explained that
there was no charge made for persons in this
city, and those from other cities had to pay S25
If they could afford it.
Miss Edna Thompson, Mr.. Marshs stenog
rapher removed from her home No %
Linden avenue, yesterday, to the Pasteur Insti-
tute She and Ramsey Marsh. Mr.. Marsh's sec
ond son. employed in the manufacturers
office, at No. 245 Robinson street, and have
been under treatment since Monday. Young
Marsh is staying at home, though he goes to
the institute for treatment daily.
The funeral of Mr.. Marsh will be held at No.
"A Ocean avenue this evening. The Rev.
Charles j. Wyckoff. pastor OF Grace Reformed
Church Lincoln Road and Bedford avenue, VIII
officiate. The burial will be on Saturday at
Greenwood Cemetery.
Three were bitten by supposed mad
dog in the vicinity of the Brooklyn navy yard
shortly after noon yesterday. They were Will
lam Rand of No. III Cumberland street; James
Prumbell, of No. 80 Vanderbilt avenue and
Frank ONeill, of No. 81 Fulton street The
physicians of the Cumberland Street Hospital.
after cauterizing their wounds. advised them
to go Immediately to the Pasteur Institute. The
dog was shot by q patrolman of the Flushing
avenue police station.