The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

The following Account of the dreadful Effects of the Bite of a Mad-Dog in Wrentham. we shall publish in the plain Narrative as given by the Parent of the Child that suffered.

On the 18th of November last, a Boy of about 9 Years old, Son to Mr. Ebenezer Blake, Junr. of Wrentham, being at a little Distance from the House, seeing a large Dog coming up to him, screamed so that the People ran out, who found the Dog had got the Boy on the Ground with his Face down, being taken up they discovered the Mark of the Teeth in his upper Lip, and ten or eleven Holes in his Cheek--A Doctor was sent for, who used proper Means to guard his Stomach and heal the Wounds; and in about a Fortnight the Boy seemed to be well, only one Issue that continued discharging, but this did not prevent his going about as before for the Space of one Month, without much Complaint, until Tuesday the 7th of January last, when he was so weak he could hardly go, and had no Appetite for eating or drinking, and the same Night he slept but a Quarter of an Hour : he had no sleep after this till his Death--the next Day he complained of an Oppression at his Stomach, and was feverish, the Doctor gave him a Puke ;--January the 9th about break of Day he said he felt hot, but could not drink, his Pulses intermitted, the Air, even the Breath of Persons was troublesome to him, he could speak but little, and was afraid of the Consequences, he said he should die, and cried for Mercy : About 11 o'clock in the Forenoon, he grew very uneasy, could not sit nor lie ; by 12 his Father was obliged to hold him by main Strength ; he was in as great Agonies, as was supposed by the Beholders, as cannot be expressed, and yet in this Extremity desired his Father to bind him, lest he should do him a Mischief. by Advice he was bound. The Child's Actions were near like a Dog's as possible, by snapping at the Spoon when the Doctors (there being two present) administered any Thing to him, though he never offered to hurt any Body, but continued in this distressed Condition and Motions from 12 o'clock till 3. when his Strength failed him, and about twilight he died, which was the same Time of Day he was born. He was born June 9, 1762, and died January 9, 1772, aged 9 Years and seven Months.