The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-04
RABIES kIllS0NE..
!. FIVE IN DANGER
Negro Child in Lunenburg Sue
cumbs to Agonies of
Hydrophobia.
RUSH FAMILY TO RICHMOND
Father, Brothers and Sisters May
Develop Disease at Any
Moment.

Another victim Of rabies-the second
in Virginia this year-has gone 10
horrtble death, and her parents. SIS
ters and brothers are in imminent dan
ger of developing the same disease
The survivors are in Richmond re-
ceiving the Pastedr treatment ~ tne
offices Of the State Health Department.
They may be attacked at any moment
since they were exposed to iniectioh
at the same time with the one VINO
succumbed.
This time a coiored family is the
victim. The parties live at kenoridse'
in Lunenburg County. and were
brought to Richmond early YESTERDAY
morning by DR.. T. G. Harris. OF that
town. He rushed them to the state
Health Department, where State bac-
teriologist Meade Ferguson trea'eo
them. In view Of the urgency OF the
case, he administered very large doses
Appeared Last Sunday.
DR. Harris was summoned last sun
day TO attend Lillian Bridgfortn, inc
four year old child OF lsom Brlosior'h'
of Kenbridge. The child appeared
highly nervous, but, having no sus-
p,c,on OF the cause. DR.. Harris mere
~ noted symptoms of fever, with pos
sib,lity Of meningitis. He went 10 the
house again Monday morning. nholns
the patient no better. Returning Mon
day night, and preparing a dose OF
medicine, he noticed chest spasn
at the sight of glass OF water. Inis
gave the first inkling OF the presence
of hydrophobia. and on making IN
uuiries -he found the source OF ln1ec-
ton.
Relation of the child's dying agencies
is too horrible to be put In print.
Spasm succeeded spasm. The little girl
bit her mother. attacked bed clothing.
ana suffered terrible things before
death mercifully came, early TUESDAY
morning. The body was buried We'd
nesday, and the family hurried at once
to Richmond.
Entire Family Infected
Isom Bridgforth and his four living
children were all bitten b. the dog
which gave the infection to Lillian
while his wife was bitten by the child
herself, on her deathbed.
Neighbors made up the necessary
funds Of the trip to Richmond. A room
has been rented here land the FANNY
time. the man will work. All save
the mother will be carefully watched.
The complete history OF infection
has not been traced, but the imme-
date source is known. 1som Bridg-
forth had a pet puppy. with which all
his children played Some four or fve
weeks ago. he was awakened by a
noise which indicated the puppy was
being attacked by b larger dog. He
went out and chased the Intruder
away but a few minutes later heard
what he supposed was the strange
dog in a fight with an animal belong
ing to a neighbor. The next morn
ing he heard that still another dog
NOT far away had been attacked
The two older dogs became sick.
Ono Of them was tied and the other
shut I'D, and both died. DR.. Harris
has not heard that either Of them bit
any one.
Rear Marks Of Bites.
The puppy became ill, and. although
irving to be affectionate with the chill
dren. frequently snapped at and Dit
them. His teeth were sharp and chill
dren parelegged- All Of the four
brought here yesterday shows scars
caused by his bites. At last the puppy
was tied up and soon died. While
'ha ndline him. Isom Bridsforth was
/, also bitten.
The father and four children are
equally liable to contract the disease
at any moment 1t is possible the dead
Shild, being younger. was affected first
because Of a weaker nervous system.
Tbs. mother, bitten only this week. Is
probably safe with the Pasteur treat
ment.
Counting these arrivals, exactly 100
cases of persons bitten by dogs found
to be mad have been treated by DR..
Ferguson since October /, ls11-one
year and three days. There are rec
ords of ninety-one who have been
treated and discharged. while three
more were under treatment October
l. The six new cases makes 100.