Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1875 — Anether Death from Hydrophobia--- The Dog Still Alive and Well. [ARTICLE]

Anether Death from Hydrophobia---The Dog Still Alive and Well.

Andrew Jackson, of Brooklyn, died of hrpdropltobia on Wednesday morning last. Mr. Jackson was a robust, well-built man, ts temperMe habits. He was very fond of * large Newfoundland dog belonging to kis employer, a Mr. Schmier, of this city, and frequently played with the dog in the yard where he was kept. Some nine weeks ago Mr. Jackson borrowed the dog and took him to his home in Brooklyn, to exhibit him to his family. The next day the animal appeared to be homesick, ana did no* eat die food that w as given to him. When Mr. Jackson came home, however, the dog became extremely playful. As he was jumping about and harking, he suddenly leaped up to catch a stick which Mr. Jackson held up, and one of his teeth ■track against Mr. Jackson’s lip, inflicting* slight wound. When Mr. Jackson felt that he had l»een bitten he became alarmed, and be washed out the wound carefully, but did not ennterizc it. On the next day he took the back to Mr. Schuyler’s, and told him about his w'ound. Mr. Schuyler took the ** to a dog fancier and told him to keep acarefhl watch upon the animal. This was done, and nothing peculiar was noticed. The dog was afterward returned to Mr. Schuyler, who had him taken out into the country. At the last accounts the dog was in gooii health. Mr. Jackson brooded over his having keen bitten and at length decided to conanil a physician. The slight wound had healed kindly, and the physician assured Mr. Jackson that there could be no danger nfany bad result. Still, Mr. Jackson’s mind became morbid upon the subject, and he lived in constant dread that the symptoms of hydrophobia might show themselves. He was often prevented from sleeping by his terror of the disease, and would get a glass of water and drink it to nee whether he was able to swallow frejely or not. His friends talked with hinytpon the subject, and when they attempted to reason with him he would acknowledge that his fears were groundless and laugh at his nervousness. Nevertheless, when alone again his morbid thoughts returned with redoubled vigor.

On Friday, the 11th of June, Mr. Jackson first felt the symptoms of hydrophobia. The disease first manifested itself in a difficulty in swallowing. Liquids were especially hard to swallow, and the attempts to drink water brought on that peculiar reflex spasm which has been attributed to irritation of the medulla oblongata and the ninth pair of nerves. During Friday night Mr. Jackson suffered considerably, each attempt to swallow produring a spasm. The wound upon his lip had healed and there was no appearance of its reopening. On Sathrday, Dr. Henry' N. Read was called in. Dr.* Read carefully examined Mr. Jackson's condition, and listened to the history of the case. A glass of water was brought to the patient and he attempted to swallow it. He took some of tl»e water into his mouth, but a spasm was immediately induced and the liquid was ejected with violence. His mental distress was great, and a constant fiow of saliva issued from the corners of his mouth. Dr. Read immediately pronounced die case one of true hydrophobia, and believed that Mr. Jackson could not recover, but endeavored to relieve him of his sufferings as much as possible. The patient had no real pain nor fever, but suffered chiefly from mental trouble, the reflex action of the brain and spinal cord inducing nausea, an overpowering weakness, and hallucinations at intervals. Large doses of morphine were administered hypodermically, but, to use 'Dr. Read’s expression, “ it seemed to have no more effect than water upon die patient’s system.” Hydrate of phloral was also administered, but without effect in allaving any of die distressing symptoms. The temperature and pulse of the patient showed marked variation from die normal standard until Monday evening, and the patient continued rational until that time. Then a violent feverish action set in and Mr. Jackson became delirious. On Tuesday Mr. Jackson grew worse rapidly. He raved like a maniac and it was almost impossible to control him. The salivary glands were highly excited and the saliva flowed in large quantities, so dial napkins were saturated in a very few minutes. The peculiar choking iftid gasping that has been so often likened to the barking of a dog was also noticeable. Throughout the night on Tuesday Mr. Jackson’s sufferings were terrible, beyond anything that can be conceived. The disease had evidently involved the entire medulla oblongata*and bad extended down the chord to the brain. Small pieces of ice were placed in the patient's mouth, but the quicklv-recurring spasms caused the sufferer to eject them the moment that they were dissolved enough to cause an effort to swallow. At times every muscle in the body would contract until it seemed as if the‘bones would be broken. The patient's head would be fiiaana back toward his heels until the extremities nearly touched, and then thev would be relaxed again, and the thrashing, tossing motions would begin again and continue until the recurrence of another spasm.

These spasms became more and more frequent as the night wore on, until thev were nearly continuous. Mr. Jackson had kad no sleep since the Friday night on which he was taken sick. The pupils of his eyes were widely dilated in spite of the Urge doses of morphine that had been given. On Wednesday morning, after his attendants and watchers had become utterly worn out, a spasm set in that was even more violent than those that preceded it. The body writhed in horrible contortions and his face became livid with the constriction of the throat and muscles of the chest. The wretched man's jaws were set, and his wide-open eyes rolled in his head and glared fiercely into vacancy. In this terrible struggle nature seemed to have utterly exhausted herself. For after the spasm Mr. Jackson became calm and rational for a moment. It was evident, however, that he was sinking rapidly, and in a few moments the ashen hue of death crept over his face. After a few easps his head was thrown back and his sufferings arse ended. There was no post-mortem examination. Tbe-case in many particulars was like that rs McCormick, who died a year ago of hydrophobia, and in whose Drain were found such interesting pathological changes. In the McCormick case, too, the»dog was still alive and apparently healthy after tiie man who was bitten had died. The dog had been suddenly made angry br throwing a stone at him. In this case the Shad shown symptoms of homesickness was by play when Mr. Jackson received his wound. The wound was sUght in both cases, healed readily and did not reopen after the symptoms of hydrophobia had set in. It was considered remarkable that the death of these men should have been at so near the‘same season of the year. Last year Mr. Butler, die dog fancier, and Mr. McCormick died of hydrophobia in early summer, and this year, besides the case of Mr. Jackson, two other deaths from hydrophobia have been

reported in Brooklyn. Mr. Jackson lived longer than persons attacked with hydroEhobia usually do, but this is deemed to avc l>cen due to his excellent constitution and Dr. Head’s skillful treatment and constant attention.—JV. Y. Tribune, June 2\.