Year: 1871

pitfebuFR Doctors Unable Decide RetWeea


HydrOphobin aud Epilepsy.


The PittsbUrg Dispatch says:-Yesterday
morning young man known by the name of
Henry Hunzinger was brought into Pittsburg
over the Western Pennsylvania Railroad from
an island near Lincoln's station. He had, been
fer brief time in the employ of farmer on
the island named Lane. On Saturday he was
threshiDg OATS and without any warning he
fell down in a succession of The most extraordi-
nary fits.


All the circumstances of the case were we'll
calculated to arouse curiosity, and yesterday
afternoon reporter visited Hunzinger in
ward of the hospital. The mans whole aspect
was 80 quiet, subdued, and even comfortable at
the time that we reg arded our visit as thrown
away. Hunzinger is large, athletic fellow,
with strong, square face, and qnite prepos"
sessiDg appearance. He was as quiet as baby
and responded to our overtures for converse
ton with the utmost politeness.


He has for some time been working as O
farmer He ascribed his fits to the inhalation
of dust from oats he was threshng. We asked
him If he had not been bitten by dog lately.
He said that he had, about the end of August,
been bitten by dog, and by snake slso very
nearly at the same time. The dog was not mad
to his knowledge. After the snake bite his
body swelled up and became discolored. He
was kept drunk for four days on whisky, and
finally got over both. We asked if he had ever
had fits of the kind before. He said that he had
had both at Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Doc
tor Atlee a physician of some eminence, had
told him that they were epileptc.


We rose to bid the poor fellow good evening
and wish him well, when his body suddenly
stretched out, his eyes shut and peculiar noise
was heard from him. In an instant he was in
one of his terrible fits. Four attendants, who
had by this time become acquainted with his
habits, rushed forward and seized his disen-
gagged arm before the parOXysm was at its
height. This precaution is absolutely necessary.
Had not his hands been pinioned he would have
bitten deep into his flesh.


The gentle communicative creature of n mo-
ment before was now a writhing monster. One
attendant grasped him by both ears aud h held
his head firmly on the pillow to keep him from
bending forward and rending his breast.
Stronger muscular efforts were probably never
witnessed than the poor fellow made to free
himself from restraint. A sort of wall poured
from his mouth at the beginning of the fit.
Suddenly he began to champ his jaws like
wild beast. We we're informed that In q pre-
vious fit at the hospital he had tHrned himself
and board so that lie faced the floor, and buried
his teeth in the carpet and wood. D'Atale
might well have feared to put his teeth and
jaws in competition with this frenzied man. He
next began to bark-literally to bark like
dog. 1t would be hard to persuade any one who
saw him do this that Hunzinger was not labor
ing with an attack of hydrophobia.


The mans struggles we're so fearful that we
distrusted both straps and attendants, and hav-
ing nothing at stake, we thought IL about time
to retire.


The Rev. Mr.. Wenzel met us at the door.
While talking to the Rev. gentleman We were
surprised to receive a message from Hunzinger
stating that he would like to see us. He had
got over his paroxysm, and though very much
exhausted said that he had suffered no pain.
If 1t be epilepsy, 1t is certainly very peculiar
case.