LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 65 



Southern Europe. But I stop to narrate a circumstance which took 

 place before our departure. It may probably be of considerable 

 value in future cases of hydrophobia. As a police officer, by name 

 Phelps, was going his night-rounds in the town of Nottingham, he 

 heard a dog barking in a hole which had been dug for the founda- 

 tion of a weighing-machine. His well-known humanity led him 

 down to the place ; and as he was lifting the dog up a little ladder 

 which he had brought with him for the purpose of descent, he re- 

 ceived from the animal a bite upon his upper lip and nose. The 

 dog, on being delivered from his prison, ran away with speed, and 

 was never heard of from that time. He must have belonged to 

 some gentleman ; for he was a pointer, and in too good condition 

 to be the property of a gamekeeper. The wound which poor Phelps 

 had received was dressed by a neighbouring surgeon, and nature 

 did the rest. But some six or seven weeks after this, the officer be- 

 gan to feel that there was something wrong within him. He became 

 better and worse alternately for two days; and then his disease 

 showed itself with every mark of virulence. He said to those around 

 him that he was going mad, and that it was all over with him : and 

 then he let fall a tear as he mentioned his poor wife and children. 

 After this, according to the minute account which was drawn out by 

 Doctor Williams of Nottingham, he proceeded to the watch-house, 

 and packed up his books which lay there ; and turning to his com- 

 panions, ' Good-bye/ said he to them ; * I shall never come here 

 again/ And then he went to Mr Davison for medical aid. Mr 

 Davison took him into his surgery, and on the poor officer getting 

 sight of running water, he was seized with convulsions. All was done 

 that could be done. The faculty of Nottingham, consisting of Doctor 

 Williams, Doctor Percy, Mr Attenburrow, Mr Sibson, and Mr Davi- 

 son, had soon arrived ; and they put in practice whatever their well- 

 known knowledge of medicine could suggest, or their pharmacy offer, 

 to save this useful and respected man from an untimely grave. But 

 all in vain. The terrible disease, with its concomitant horrors of 

 spasmodic affection, baffled all their skill, and set their united science 

 at utter defiance ; for death was hurrying their patient with unrelent- 

 ing fierceness to his last resting-place. Whilst things were in this 

 deplorable state, an express was sent off to me late in the evening ; 



