The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-06
R ICH Nd. V-Snecial

~ - II NJ ~ ~ -, Especial
thirteen members of a Patrick
county. Va. family came TO Richmond
last night to receive treatment against
rabies One OF their number died a
few days ago-on May 23d-after an
illness of thirteen days. The attend
ant physician pronounced his disease
virulent hydrOphobia. AS FAR as is
known, no other member of the fam
lily is infected, but inasmuch as every
one of them nursed him it is feared
that the dangerous germs may have
found their way intO the blood through
slight abrasiOns, such as mosquito
bites.
James McHone. son-in-Iaw of the
dead man, came 70 Richmond Thurs
day and after consultation with doc
tors connected with the State Health
Department, decided 10 bring other
members of the family to the city
without delay.
Dr. Meade Ferguson is administer
Ing treatment and gives every assur-
ance that il will prevent all possible
attacks OF rabies. The Patrick coun-
~ people must remain in Richmond
three weeks. and have rented 3O1I
Williamsburg Avenue.
They Will receive treatment twice
n day for the first three days; then
once a day for the remaining eigh-
teen days
No member of the family seems to
know when or whether Robert Rick
man was bitten by a mad dog. though
it is known that there were recently
several dogs affected with the disease
in Stuart the home of the afflicted
family.
Mr.. Rickmap showed, according to
the doctors. every symptom of hydro
phObia He suffered fearful conVul-
siOns. fOamed at the mouth and not
infrequently tried to bite those who
were attending him, swapping at them
spasmodically.
When he died his head was sent
to Washington. The government ex-
perts were. unable to examine it, how
ever. on account Of its condition. but
they advised that all precautions be
taken.
Ehe treatment which DR.. Ferguson
is administering is furnished free by
the State. The anti-tOXin is furnished
without cost by the directors of the
Federal laboratories in Washington.
1t consists of small sections of the
spinal cord of Il rabbit which died of
the disease. The infection in the sec
tons is of varying strength. The
! weaker ones are first administered,
then the stronger ones.
| Carefully mascerated in a salt solu-
| ton a section of the cord is given by
! podermically in the abdomen. When
| twenty-four injections have been made
| the patient, if no dangerous symptoms
| have developed. is pronounced out of
danger, the cure being absolute.
The cause of the disease, doctors
say, is unknown. It can be trans
mitted only through the blood No
| germs, however. have as yet been dis
covered, nor has any chemical blood
! test revealed a reaction by which the
presence of the disease could be de-
termined.
Microscopic examination of the
| brain tissues are necessary to find
traces of the germ. When the tissue
! is treated under a strong lens, little
blue and purplish freckles, known as
Negri bodies, are seen, which are in
dications OF the disease.
Increase OF Rabies.
DR.. Ferguson said this morning that
the State Health Department had
treated thirty-five cases since the first
Of the year. which is fifty per cent
more than the number of those treated
during the first five months Of last
year
The disease, he said. is allowed tC
| ravage almost unchecked in the United
States. there being no universal muz.
I zle law such as is in force in England
and other European countries. IL
, England, health statistics show, there
has not been a case Of hydrophobis
for over fifteen years, and the medica
colleges and institutions are forced
10 send to this country to get speci.
, mems for clinical or demonstration
purposes. Dogs carried to England
must remain in quarantine six months
and must then be carefully watched
and muZzled whenever the slightes
indication OF any disease makes IT.
appearance.
1.-THE yellow cur nuisance" said DR.