Facts relating to Hydrophobia. 151 



3. S. W. H., third victim, bitten by W. C. in 1822. Sick five 

 days. Died five years after the bite, in 1827, M. 30 years. 



4. C. C, fourth victim, bitten by W. C. in 1822. Sick eleven 

 days. Died short of six years after the bite, in 1828, M. 37 years. 



These facts are well established, and they preclude the necessity, 

 if not the propriety, of referring the symptoms of their disease to vphat 

 is sometimes termed spontaneous hydrophobia. Nor did the previ- 

 ous habits of life, in a majority of the patients, at all favor such a 

 reference of their symptoms. 



C. C. was a constant spectator of his brother W. C. in his last 

 sickness. They died in the same house. C. C. also watched with 

 L. T. C. and S. W. H., and repeatedly told his wife, as she now 

 affirms, that they were sick just as his brother was. A sensible man 

 who witnessed three of the cases, says the persons were sick alike 

 as nearly as the difference of natural dispositions, and habits of life 

 would permit. Different individuals, who observed attentively two 

 or three of the cases, bear the same testimony, in such numbers, as 

 to include in it all the four. With persons at all acquainted with the 

 facts and the cases, it is now the general opinion that the disease was 

 hydrophobia. 



All four dreaded confinement, and exhibited great quickness of ap- 

 prehension in regard to persons, and circumstances which surrounded 

 them. There was uncommon agility and sprightliness in their mo- 

 tions, and an evident display of cunning, especially in their efforts to 

 escape and to bite persons. Till within about two days of the termi- 

 nation of the disease, the patients were not only inclined to escape, 

 but a primary object of the intended escape was to have opportunity 

 to run. It is the opinion of the attendants, that if they could have 

 escaped, they would have run till they dropped down dead. One, 

 among other things, pretended to have business at a place sixteen 

 miles distant. He plead with his attendants to let him place his feet 

 on the door steps, and assured them that if he might do it, he would 

 run so that no man could overtake him till he had reached the place. 



The fears of all were that they should injure others. One was, at 

 times, afraid of receiving injury from others ; but this fact, it is be- 

 lieved, may be explained, by a reference to circumstances peculiar 

 to himself. All that is claimed, however, is that there was a general 

 concurrence in the class of symptoms to which allusion has been 

 made. From momentary agitations, connected with slight mental 

 aberration, the spasms gradually increased, in duration and force, to 

 the last. One attendant says the strength of the patient seemed to 



