Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1911 — Dog’s Caress-Brings Death and to Child [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dog’s Caress-Brings Death and to Child

WINFIELD. L. I.—Martha Quis, 4 years old, and Toto. a little terrier that for a year had been the child's inseparable companion, were frolicking in the yard of the Quis home in city one morning about a fortnight ago as a neighbor's dog slunk past. With frantic yelps Toto started In pursuit, though Martha called in pleading tones for him to come back. It was the first time Toto had disobeyed his little mistress and she was heartbroken. The other dog attacked Toto fiercely and in a few moments Martha's play-fellow limped back to her whimpering from a dozen wounds. Taking the dog in her arms she washed the smarting dust from the cuts, which aoon healed under the tender ministrations of the little nurse. * . Martha was suffering from heat rash, which caused her great discomfort. She scratched the heat sores till she drew the blood. In pain himself from his wounds, Toto seemingly sympathised with Martha, and to demon-

strata his affections be would lick her hands. The family smiled at the strong bond of attachment between Uie child and her pet Then one morning Martha went to the rear yard to get Toto, as was her custom. The doghouse was empty and Its tenant was nowhere to be found. Martha was inconsolable. She cried half the day and called continually for Toto to come back to her. Search was made for the missing pet. but It was unsuccessful. Martha became ill. At first it was supposed that it was the heat and the faithlessness of her little playmate that affected her. Soon, however, the child became delirious. Always she called for Toto, appealing to him to come back to her and not make her cry by being so “bad." Her pitiful pleas wrung the hearts of those at her bedside. A doctor was summoned, and after one glance at Martha he called in consultation a fellow practitioner. They both agreed that Martha had hydrophobia. They examined the child for traces of a dog bite, but all they could discover were the scars from the rash. Everything was done to combat the disease, but soon Martha was beyond any human aid. Chloroform was administered and the child was kept under its influence till death ended her suffering.