Year: 1874

Another fatal case of this frightful malady
is reported, and it is q peculiarly instructive
one. 1t presents the symptoms of the disease
in way that will clear up somewhat, even for
the general reader, the relation of its pa
thology to the great prominent feature that has
given its name to the disease. Hydrophobia
is generally called a spasmodic disease, and it
has been called disease without lesion.
| Diseases without LESSONS" are of course
merely diseases in which science has not yet
been able to locate the lesion. All the indi-
cations in hydrophobia are that the seat of
the disease is the throat and that the morbid
process is an irregular action of the nerves
Of this part which results in spasmodic
closure of the passage Inhamed and gene
rally disordered, the parched membrane OF the
throat excites in the victim an acute sensation
of thirst, and he is as eager to drink as one
in the desert. He sees water, and the very
sight of it provokes the nerves to involuntary
action just as when hungry man sees Il
| tempting dish we say ''his mouth waters"
Involuntarily the muscles OF the throat perform
the action that they would perform if the
man were swallowing water. The nerves
thus called upon in their disordered state act
spasmodically and the man suffers a momen-
tary sutfocation. AT the beginning of the
disease the spasm is slight but as it goes on
and the process is repeated it becomes severer,
and the very sound of water poured out will
excite the spasm because this also excites the
now uncomfortable action of the throat.
Here, then, begins what is called the water
madness The man becomes conscious that
there is relation between the presence Of the
water and this horrible power that seems to
seize and close up his throat-the uncon-
trollable power of his own muscles. Every
time his parching throat and terrible thirst
tempt him to turn his eyes toward cup of
water the spasnodic action is renewed and he
/ is relieved q little if he sees no water. Hence
he fears and avoids water, simply as it is the
thing that provokes seizure that threatens
instant death. Some men of exceptionally
strong will are able in the early stages of the
disease to drink, and this has given rise to
the notion that the hydrophobic symptom was
itself only an imagination Of the observers;
but it is a reality, and the above account of





of this last very marked case.


BANKRUPTCY AT HAVANA tide of
bankruptcy is rapidly rising in Cuba, and
as usual the ''good Spaniards'' are ap-
pealing to the Captain General to take
measures to stop the advancing food. Gold
at 292 makes life at Havana decidedly uncom-
Portable, especially as there is a good prospect
that before long it may reach 1000. Under
these circumstances the 'good Spaniards de-
mand the imposition of five per cent tax on
all real estate for term Of tN % years. Within
that time they are sanguine enough to believe
that the rebellion will come to an end but
in this they are very likely to be disappointed,
unless, indeed, the war be brought to an end
by the recognition Of Cuban independence.
If the Spanish inhabitants of Cuba and the
government Of Spain were wise enough to
consult their real interests and cast aside their
over-sensitive pride they would perceive the
advantage of making terms with an insurrcc-
ton they cannot crush and accepting solid
compensation for the abandonment of an illu-
sorry dominion which can bring no benefit
either to Spain or her people.


THE PUBLIC SITUATION IN FRANCE remains
hopeful for the cause of the conservative
democracy and the Republic. The members
of the Assembly Committee of Thirty are not
influenced by any feeling Of excitement or
haste in their consideration Of the question of
extending MacMahons term of power. On
the contrary, they appear desirous to treat it
with all the attention which its importance
demands. Monarchism, as general princi-
pie, is losing its hold on the mind of the As
sembly, and Bonapartism has been handed
over to the especial care Of the Paris police.


The BRAZILIAN CABLE.-Queen Victoria
and Emperor Dom Pedro have exchanged
congratulatory messages. This enterprise in
the direction of annihilating distance fills the
mind with hope regarding the future. 1t
gives fair promise of an era which shall know
no war. Let us hope that our bright pros
poets will all become reality.


The SYRACUSE DISASTER. testimony
given yesterday in the Coroners inquest in
regard to the cause of this frightful calamity
bears heavily against the architect Here is
an opportunity to teach building contractors
to pay some regard to human life which the
jury in the case should not neglect.


The SUEz CANAL TRANSIT This subject
is engaging good deal OF attention in Eng
land 1t is intimately connected with the
cognate matters of the route to India and the in
Auence of British diplomacy in Egypt. France
is likely to recede from the position which
Napoleon and Eugene assumed in this direc-
tion and Mr.. Bull is, consequently, about to
rearrange q coalition which will not be bene-
fetal to the interests of the French Republic
in the Orient