A case of hydrophobia / by Charles D. Homans.

  • Homans, Charles D. (Charles Dudley), 1826-1886.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case of hydrophobia / by Charles D. Homans. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    BY CHARLES D. HOMANS, M. D. Bead before the Boston Society for Medical Observation, March 6, 1804. J. W. H., of Charlestown, a lad 15 years of age, rather small in stature, with light hair, eyes and complexion, of good general health, but of a some- what nervous temperament, was bitten, Jan. 27th, by a dog supposed to be mad, which was lying on the floor at the foot of the stairs of the house in which the lad resided. As he stooped to caress the animal, he was bitten by him in the calf of the left leg and about the right ear; he was bitten first in the ear, and afterwards, raising his foot to kick the animal, received the wound in the leg. Immediately after this happened, the lad hung down his head sullenly and slowly followed the dog, regardless of his mother's entreaties to return ; this was totally unlike his usual habit. Two other persons were bitten at the same time; one a lad of 9 years, the other an Irishman who afterwards killed the dog. The wound of the man was slight and immediately cauterized, and neither of these persons have yet shown any signs of disease. On being spoken to on Thursday last, re- specting the death of the boy with hydrophobia, the Irishman appeared morose and sullen, but said nothing. The wounds of J. W. H. were bathed in laudanum and water, and healed up kindly, or at least scabbed over in forty-eight hours, without suppuration or much pain. Nothing was noticed in this lad out of the common way, save that he always appeared more elated than was natural to him, till Saturday evening, Feb. 25, when, on conversing with a lady, he fell suddenly asleep, and on awaking said he could not help it. On going to church Sunday, Feb. 26, he was noticed to shiver fre- quently, and complained of feeling cold ; said there was a catch in his breath eveiy few minutes. This continued, increasing in severity, 1 n