Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1876 — A Mad Dog’s Bite--—How It Feels and How a Mad-Stone Works. [ARTICLE]

A Mad Dog’s Bite--—How It Feels and How a Mad-Stone Works.

Captain D. J. Bunco, of Meehanicsviile, Cedar comity, writes to the lowa City Press pf his misfortune in being bitten by a mad dog and of his subsequent search for a mad-stone to cure the bite. He savs: 1 was bitten on Saturday, July 1, on the left wrist by a small dog, which I did not at the time think was mad, though I killed it immediately. I had no suspicion till the 4th of July when I felt a sharp pain start from the wound and extend to the back of my neck and to my face. This would last but a moment, and return at intervals, each time getting worse. Having heard much of the virtues of the mad-stone, I at once made inquiries for one, and on 1 Wednesday evening was told that a gentleman named Turner Evans, of lowa City, had one. At 11 o’clock that night I left this place for your city, but owing to the flood in Cedar river did not get through until noon the next day. We learned that some years ago a Mr. Evans bad treated some cases in lowa City, and by searching old newspaper files it was ascertained that his residence then was Paris, Linn county. Telegrams were sent to Marion aud Center Point, and I was finally put on the track to Paris, where I found Messrs. Evans & Co., who have tha madstone. This was on Saturday, eight days after the bite. About 6 o’clock p. m. that day the stone wa.a applied. The first application of the stone proved that tho dog which bit ine was mad, and that my /system wrs becoming impregnated with the virus. The stone hejld on twenty-five minutes the first time, when it was full changed color and tell off. Another scarification was made and it was again .applied seventy three times, bolding in each time from twenty-five minutes to cue hour, until at last repeated efforts showed the remedy had done its work, for it would adhere no more, which is indicated by its failure to stiok, and its change in color from a natural dark brown to a deep green polor. At the first application it was very painful, but grew less so each time until the last. The owners of the stone, Messrs. Evans & Fleming, live near Paris, Linn county, and in the past twenty-five years have saved many persons from the horrible death of hydrophobia, and have in the same time rescued thousands of dollars’ worth of stock from loss by the same cause. Sf any one says there is no virtue in the mad-stone, let him. be referred to me and hundreds of others for proof that there is.