eT Facts relating to Hydrophobia. 
increase during the spasms, till he finally sunk under them. This 
man’s services have always been sought, and freely rendered in ex- 
treme sickness. He affirms that he never witnessed cases at all re+ 
sembling these. In attending on the last individual, he covered with 
rags spots of fractured skin on his hands, lest the saliva of the patient 
should reach them. Another procured and constantly wore, a pair 
of stout gloves. An attendant in one of the cases, says, that twelve 
hours’ service at a time, was a8 much as he could endure, and that 
others were obliged frequently to change,.and retire from the wee; 
and suspend the efforts required of them when present. 
Many testify that there was in all the cases, during the spasms or 
spells as termed, an uncommon scent from the patient’s breath. This 
was observed in every case by numbers. Some designate it by the 
epithet strong; others say they never experienced the like before, 
nor since, and they cannot describe it. All seem to remember it as _ 
distinct in its character. One person in endeavoring to con= 
vey an idea of it, said it resembled that of cats and dogs when fight 
ing. This smell was not perceived, except at the times when the 
patient raved, or had spells, and frothed at the mouth. ie 
It is the opinion of attendants, that the patients were literally stiff 
ened during the spasms, and that in the latter stages of the disease, 
they might have been raised up erect, by the application of force to 
the head, without any bending of the body. The corpses were stiff 
immediately after dissolution, and the jaws set so as to require no 
nuffier. On them, and near the surface of the skin, blue spots ap- 
peared, which some mistook for indications of mortification. One 
was kept four days, and on this body the spots wholly disappeared, 
and it underwent no other visible change. It is stated, that the spots 
appeared as soon as the patient was supposed to be struck with death, 
and that when they disappeared, they left the skin slightly affected, 
and of a greenish hue. It is said the corpses had a strange appear- 
ance, the countenance resembling that of a living person in health 
when cold. Some oncnens this appearance by the epithet blue. 
vePeS. An ae medical man, who has heard the above state 
ment, and conversed largely with witnesses, believes these eases 10 
have been hydrophobia. ‘Two of them have been attributed by oth- 
ers to delirium tremens, but the previous habits of the patients di 
not favor that idea ; none of the four were ‘addicted to the use oe 
dent spirits, and one of them had a constitutional aversion to 
liquors. 
