HYDROPHOBIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5916, 11 February 1880, Page 5

HYDROPHOBIA.

The following interesting particulars of the influence of the mind on the body are furnished in a late issue of the Cornhill 3£agct m z i ne : —“ Andrew Cross, tho electrician, had been bitten severely by a cat, which on the samoday died from hydrophobia. He seomsresolutely to have dismissed from his mind any fears which must naturally have been suggested by these circumstances. Had he yielded to them, as most men would, he might not improbably have succumbed within a few days or weeks to an attack of mindcreated hydrophobia—so to describe the fatal ailment which ere now has been known to kill persons who had been bitten by animals perfectly free from rabies. Three months passed, during which Crosse enjoyed his usual health. At tho end of that time, however, he felt one morning a severe pain in his arm, accompanied by a severe thirst. He ca.led for water, but “ at the instant,” ho says, “ that I was about to raise tho tumbler to my lips, a strong spasm shot across my throat ; immediately the terrible conviction came to my mind that I was about to fall a victim to hydrophobia, the consequences of (he bite I had received from the cat. The agony of mind I endured

for one hour is indescribable ? the e.niimElation of such a horrible death—death from ydrophobia—was almost insupportable ; tee torments of hell itself could not hare surpassed what I suffered. The pain which had first commenced in my hand, passed up to the elbow, and from tot-me in tbo shoulder, threatening to ex end. I felt all human aid was usele is, and I believed that I must die. At length 1 began to reflect upon my condition, T ‘■aid to inysrif, ‘Either I shall die or I shall not j if I do, it v, ill only he a similar fate wh : ch nnny have suffered, and many more must suffer, and I must bear it like a man; if, on the other hand, there is any hope of my life, my only elnr.ee is in summoning my utmost resolution, deft ing the attack, and exerting every cffoit of my mind. Accordingly, feeling that physical as well as mental exertion was necessary, I took my gun, shouldered it, and went cut for the purpose of shooting, my arm aching the while intolerably. I met with no spoil, but I walked the whole afternoon, exuding at 1 every step I went a' strung mental effort against the disease. When I returned to the house I was decidedly better; I was able to eat some dinner, and drink water -,u usual. The next morning the aching pain bad gone down to my elbow, the following it went down to the wris f , and !hn third day left me altogether, I mentioned the circumstance to Dr King’ake, and he said ho certainly considered 1 had had an attack of hydrophobia, which would possibly hare proved fatal had I not struggled against it by a strong effort of mind.”