328 A CASE OF HYDROPHOBIA, 
upon it for a few moments, and some lint moistened with the so¬ 
lution of lead was applied. Mr. South coming into the ward, 
reminded us that the guaco was said to be an absolute specific for 
hydrophobia; and as its virtues had never been put to the test in 
this country, and the qualities of lead were, after all, doubtful, 
Dr. Roots, very properly, instantly determined on putting the 
powers of this plant to the test, provided any of the juice could 
be procured. I now recollected that Sir Robert Ker Porter had 
given some of the expressed juice to the College of Physicians; 
and I instantly wrote a note for it, thinking that the article could 
not be put to a better purpose. 
At about half-past four the guaco arrived, and the following is 
the report of the case from that time. Before reading the report 
I should remark, that the administration of the enema, and the 
production of the vesication, necessarily produced severe attacks 
of the affection of his respiratory organs, and violent general ex¬ 
citement; but from the time that I first saw him, he lay still in 
the intervals when not disturbed or interfered with, and was as 
calm as a person under ordinary circumstances, showing, how¬ 
ever, a desire to be left alone and remain quiet, occasionally hav¬ 
ing a catching in his breath and a sob. As he lay I had thought 
the pupil rather dilated; the pulse ranged from about 80 to 96, of 
a natural character ; the heat was natural, and the face, as I have 
already mentioned, rather flushed. 
At half-past four, then, the guaco juice was brought; but as 
he refused to swallow it, two ounces were injected per anum. 
This appeared to produce an effect, for he remained tranquil for 
some time after, and seemed disposed to continue so. The slum¬ 
ber, however, was unsound, and disturbed by the slightest noise; 
and the return to consciousness was accompanied, on every occa¬ 
sion, by a violent pain in the throat, and by convulsive sobs. He 
would start from his recumbent posture, wrap the blanket around 
his body to exclude the air, and with the most agonising expres¬ 
sions of countenance labour for several seconds convulsively for 
breath. With a view to obtain more effectually the virtue of the 
guaco, some moistened leaves of it were applied to the chest. 
The moisture at first distressed him, but he made a great strug¬ 
gle to permit this procedure; and the leaves were at length put 
on, and when there, he expressed himself pleased with their pre¬ 
sence. 
Six o'clock .'—The paroxysms have returned more frequently; 
and it was proposed to him to have the chest again moistened : 
the proposal, however, was too much; for, starting as usual from 
his recumbent position, he relapsed into a most violent fit. Re¬ 
fusing thus obstinately, it was resolved to apply the remedy by 
