Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 265, 17 September 1864, Page 6

Clue toe Hydrophobia.—The Leeds Mercury publishes a communication from Mr. James Garth Marshal], drawing attention to a certain cure, or rather preventative, of hydrophobia. Sir. Marshall, Laving seen in print a French method of treatment for the disease, wrote to his tamily physician iu London—one of the most eminent members of the faculty, to inquire whether it was to be relied upon ; and lie received a reply, the main portion of which we subjoin—" About 25 years ago, more or lets, I was sent to see the present Lord L , then a iine healthy lad, who, it wa3 said, had been licked, not only over the lips, but \v 111 - iu the mouth, by a little terrier, which was found sitting oil the sleeping lad's chost, and dipping his tongue into his master s open mouth, 'l'lie demeanour of the dog alarmed the late Lord L , and I was called in to ascertain the fact of the dog being or not being mad. Now on this poind did consider myself any authority, and so] sent for Sir Benjamin Brodic, who, though agreeing with me as to the probable madness of the dog, nevertheless desired that the late Mr. Youatt, the veterinary surgeon, and a most remarkable man, should be appealed to lie at once pronounced (he dog as labouring under hydrophobia, and, turning to ine, added. 'Jf you will come to me in live days at our dog hospital, we can dissect the animal." I did so, and found the dog dead, and Youatt busy in opening the carcase. I naturally was shy in touching the animal, and asked if he were not afraid. ' 2vo,' lie answered, ' I have repeatedly been bitten by my most undoubted patients—(there were several in cribs there then, which I saw alive) —and I never have any fear.' T asked liim how often he had been litten; he told me eight times ; and then he tailed his assistant or porli r, and asked him how often he had been bitten ; he, I think owned to at least eight, and I believe ten, undoubted introductions of the virus ; and be it remembered that the attack or bites were all on the hands of these men, so could not be wiped oil' by an intervening garment. Y'ouatt then told me that his remedy was to allow the common nitrate of silver,easily procui-able, to filter into the wound ; it decomposes the saliva, and in doing this destroys the virus. Whenever I am bitten, I have a remedy sure and at hand, and no fears of the disease supervening. The actual cautery, the caustic potass, and excision, are in my opinion unsafe and liable to fail. The nitrate of silver chases the poison into the very capillaries and nci - traliscs it. c-ince I have known this I always use it to any bite of a dog, sound or not, and am at rest. The above was stated in some blue book about thirty years ago, by Youatt. Brodic and I acted on it, and made young Lord L—'s lips, and tliroat as black as that of his thoroughbred mad terrier ; and he, if you ever see him, will tell you this tale. The poison of hydrophobia remains latent on an average six weeks ; the part heals over, but there is a pimple or wound, more or less iritable ; it then becomes painful, and the germ whatever it is, is ripe for dissemination into the system, and then all hope is gone. .Nevertheless, between the time of the bite and ilie activity of the wound previous to dissemination, the caustic of nitrate of silver is a sure preventative ; after that it is as useless us all other means. The best mode of application of nitrate of silver is by introducing it solidly iu the wounc. It melts in an equal quantity of water. If already healed, the cicatrix should be rubbed and causticated away entirely." liELitiiOL.s Tijact Society.—The annual meeting of this society has been held at Kxcter Hall, Lord Ucnholme presiding. The number of publications issued from the depository during the past year amouutcd to -13,251,U00, and the proximate circulation from the formation of the society to one thousand and lifty-ibur millions. There had been contributed as follows towards the foreign operations of the society:-—France, £000; Belgium, 119,200 copies of tracts ; Holland, 70,200 tracts,; Kussia, 110,000 tracts, value £215 10s.; Germany, 5,000,000, value £1-117 10s. Sd. ; Switzerland, £200,0G5 ; .Spain, .£2OO ; and for Italy, 20,000 copies of books had been published, at a cost of £100. For India, SS,-ISO Bengali tracts had been printed by the Auxiliary at Calcutta; iu Bombay, 112,!M>0 copies, in addition to 150,583 which had been sold : anil in different parts of India works had Veil published at a ccst to the ociety of £1770 18s. (id. The sum of WOO had been .-appropriated to China, and large grants to Briti.-h North America, the "W'estlndies, Australian colonies, and Africa. The leceipts of the society, ineltiinng the balance from last year, amounted to £10<.^ l 'l' i-3s. Til., whilst the expenditure was £100,fQ4 3s. *''■