Year: 1879

Thomas Kelley, a young Brooklyn car driver, was bitten twice in the hand by Newfoundland dog. Kelley had the wounds cauteriZed, and thought nothing further of them until two months after ward, when he was seized with spasms, raved wildly and when water was brought into his presence he shrieked with terror. Then it was surmised that he. was suffering from hydrophobia. Dr. P. J. Prendergast was called in and found Kelley feverish and excitable. He placed thermometer in his mouth to obtain the temperature of his body, and when withdrawing it the young man snapped at it and parked like dog. These and other alarming symptoms left no room for doubt as to the nature of the disease, and the doctor ad- ministered Slnorphia in doses of half grain every two hours, but this treat ment did not produce the slightest effect on his patient. During the afternoon the spasms became more frequent and violent, the patient raving and demand

 ng of those present that they would al low him to leave the room, warning them in case of refusal that he would bite them. Hyperdermic injections of hydrate of chloral were administered to quiet his nerves, Kelley being held down to the bed by four powerful men while the injections were administered. His temperature then was l02, and his pulse beat at the rate of 40 to the minute. These injections were continued through out the night and the next morning. and consultation of physicians was had over the case. It was decided that Dr. Prendergast's treatment was perfectly proper, and could only be improved by the injection of beef tea, milk and brandy to strengthen the man, as nothing could be forced down his throat, owing to the contraction of the muscles. At times Kelley revived under this treatment, and sat up in bed and conversed with his mother and acquaintances, who were present. Thrice, when he felt the spasms returning, he warned them to keep at safe distance or to secure him so that he could not injure any of them. "You know," he said, "that can't con- l trol myself when I'm in this condition, and I might do a great deal of harm. If I want to get out of the room, don't let me do so." When in the throes of these terrible convulsions his first efforts were made to escape to the street, he insisting that he would die if kept in the room. Once, despite the powerful grip of two men, he broke away and started on run for the stairs, but was caught, and after a severe struggle was taken back. His screams and yells could be heard through out the large tenement house and by passers by on the street below. Dr. George Everson, of the College Hospital staff, remained by the bedside of Kelley from two o'clock in the afternoon up to the hour of his death. At three o'clock his patients pulse beat at the rate of TO to the minute, his eyes were wild and he foamed at the mouth. Hyperdermic in- l lection of digitalis to quiet the action of the heart and morphia to act on the ner- vous system, were administered up to half-past nine o'clock. Kelley slept for a short time afterwards, when he awaken ed and conversed rationally.

 Shortly before eleven o'clock he sent for his friends, as he said he wished to see them all before he died. In response to his request between twenty and thirty young men and women of the neighbor- hood came into the little apartment on the third floor of the tenement where he was lying. He shook hands with all oi them, tears coursing down their cheeks, as they filed by his couch. Fifteen min- utes before his death Kelley was seized with spasm, and after it had passed off he laid in stupor, from which he dld | not awake