Observations on Hydrophobia. U^ 



The last anomalous remedy now left for notice consists in the 

 extirpation of small knots or tumours, said to be formed after a 

 certain time under the tongue at the orifices of the sublingual 

 gland, in which may be felt with a probe a fluctuating fluid — the 

 hydrophobic poison ! The patient is also to take for some time the 

 decoction of genista *. This remedy constitutes the subject of a 

 report, made to the Prussian Government, and published in the 

 Berlin Slate Gazette ! 



This general summary of the remedies which have hitherto 

 been in use will at least evince, that neither diligence nor enter- 

 prise can be deemed to have been wanting in the attempts of 

 medical men to subdue this horrific disorder. And although truth 

 should compel us to admit the futility of all previous curative at- 

 tempts, no physician would feel that he fulfilled his duty by re- 

 maining a passive and inert spectator of the piienomena of the 

 disease, whenever his aid might be required. But how is he* to 

 proceed ? Shall he waste the precious time of action and almost 

 the only time he can improve, in a vain recurrence to obsolete 

 specifics, and abortive expedients ? 



" This," says our author, " is the important question I wish to raise,and the 

 following- suggestions, submitted with much deference, are meant to meet it, 

 and to point out a new path of treatment, in which it may not be inexpedient 

 to tread, although with caution. 



" Let it be borne in mind that it is chiefly by the uncontrollable spasms of 

 the muscles of respiration, and deglutition, that this disease proves fatal. 

 These being once subdued, or a truce gained, as the first and indispensable 

 ground-work, it will be essential to profit by such a remission of the spastic 

 slate, in vigorously supporting the system generally, and the nervous part of it 

 more particularly, in order that the patient may not sink under the violence 

 of the exacerbations he has to encounter, during his perilous struggle. 



" In fulfilling the first and most indispensable intention, opium would seem 

 from analogy to be peculiarly adapted to relieve the symptoms, especially the 

 extreme irritability of mind and bodyj the complet* loss of sleep, and the 

 convulsions. Accordingly, it has been administered, and in some cases to an 

 extent that is scarcely conceivable, and yet, so administered, without having 

 been found to do any evident good. In one case, under the direction of 

 Dr. Babington, the enormous doses of twenty-five grains and /lalf a drachm 

 were repealed at small intervals, so that in eleven hours no less than a hundred 

 and eig/ily ffrains o( of/ium v/ece swallowed without any benefit, aod without 

 even producing any sleep t. 



" That o/7mTO should thus have been tried in large and frequent doses, and 

 persevered in to an enormousand frightful extent, surely affords an irrefragable 

 evidence of its having been considered the most apposite remedy, while it is 

 no less manifest, that the state of the gastric functions and sensibility differs 

 in Hydrophobia from their condition in any other disease, or in health. 



" After such demonstration has been given us of the ineflicacy of opium, 

 administered by the stomach, it seems incumbent on us either to expunge it 

 from the catalogue of antilyssic remedies, or employ, if possible, some more 

 effective mode of introducing \\snarrotic power into the system. 



" Through the direct medium of the circulation, by injection into the 



• Ed. Med. and Surg. Journal, 1823. 

 + Med. Records and Researches, 



I 2 



