A CASE OF IDIOPATHIC HYDROPHOBIA. 
79 
mass of useful and interesting matter that is promised to be de- 
veloped in the forthcoming Numbers, must justly entitle it to 
that patronage and esteem it so truly merits from every member 
of the profession. 
A CASE OF*IDIO PATHIC HYDROPHOBIA. 
By J Kimball, Esq., M.R.C.S., Knowle. 
[We insert this interesting case on account of its analogy to 
those which occasionally come under our notice with regard to 
another animal. — Y.] 
W. K., aged twenty-four years, of a bilio-lymphatic tempera- 
ment, has, during the last month, suffered from occasional 
attacks of palpitation of the heart, occurring generally in the 
night, and invariably followed by profuse perspiration. 
On October 4th, 1841, he rode a distance of fourteen miles, 
and, on arriving at the end of his journey, at about twelve o’clock 
at noon, he was suddenly seized with great difficulty of breath- 
ing, pain over the region of the heart, and painful sensation over 
the chest. The paroxysm continued for a few minutes, when the 
dyspnoea and pain gradually subsided. He afterwards ate a 
good dinner, and appeared as well as usual, until about eight 
o’clock in the evening, when all the symptoms returned with 
greater violence than before ; and to so distressing a degree did 
the dyspnoea increase, that there appeared to be imminent danger 
of suffocation. He was now bled to eighteen ounces, but without 
any manifest relief, and the operation was repeated in three hours 
to the amount of six ounces, which had the effect of considerably 
relieving the pain. 
About five a.m., October 5th, I saw him; he could not speak, 
although conscious of what was passing around him. I was in- 
formed that he had had violent convulsive movements of the 
arms which had lasted nearly an hour, and he now appeared to 
be suffering from spasmodic constriction about the glottis and 
pharynx, causing extreme difficulty of inspiration, which had a 
peculiar crowing character. He had likewise a great desire for 
water, and complained much of thirst. No sooner, however, 
was this fluid brought into his presence than it was obliged to be 
withdrawn ; the sight of it causing alarming increase of pain 
about the larynx, with a horrible feeling of suffocation. When 
the water was removed these symptoms became ameliorated. 
