Alexandria Gazette

Hydrophobia.—We have to record another death by this appalling disease. Paul Smith, a lad between 17 and eighteen years of age, an apprentice to Mr. Freeland, carpenter, No 215 Houston street, was bitten in April last. The dog did not give distinct signs of disease until some days afterwards. Young Smith's wound healed, and he experienced no inconvenience from it until Tuesday morning last, at breakfast when the pouring of the coffee excited spasms, which increased so rapidly, that, overcome with agony, he died on Wednesday morning at one o'clock, or about twenty hours from the first appearance of the disease. This makes five cases of death by hydrophobia which have been reported to the City Inspector within two months. The other persons were,—a young man in Greenwich street, a young lady in Sullivan street, a person in Broadway, and Dr. Moore's coachman at Bellevue.

It is to be feared, however, that this is but a small part of the catalogue which will be made ere the summer is past. Quite a number of rabid dogs have been killed, but not until they had bitten many other animals and several persons. The following cases have come to our knowledge.

A carman in the upper part of the city had a dog for which he had a fondness, and, to keep the dog, tied him with his horse. One morning the dog appeared somewhat singular, jumping and snapping at the nose of the horse. The carman took it, however, for nothing but play, harnessed his horse, and went to his work. During the day the dog got loose, and the carman's little daughter caught him and tied him again and during the process was bitten. The dog soon after showed evident symptoms of madness, and was killed. The horse also died. The little girl and her parent are in a state of fearful apprehension.

Two boys were bitten in Bedford street some time ago, one of whom is dead, and is perhaps the case alluded to in Greenwich street.

A young lady was bitten in 6th street, whose name we cannot now mention. Another young lady of very respectable family has been bitten, whom it would be improper to distress by printing her name. A young man was bitten in the foot, in Beekman street, and the case has been mentioned in the newspapers. He ran immediately to a surgeon, and begged that his foot might be instantly amputated. But the surgeon knowing that this would be useless declined. A gentleman, Mr. B. was bitten a few days ago near Tammany Hall. And here we will state what we have on good authority. A surgeon was riding down Broadway some years ago, and when just above the Bowling Green, he heard the cry of mad dog! The dog passed up the side walk and bit a small child. The Doctor ran to the child, and instantly cut out the flesh around the wound, and took the little patient home, where the most active measures were used to produce suppuration, and a sore was kept open and discharging for some time; yet that child died of hydrophobia.

The newspapers have mentioned the case of an Irish laborer at the Custom House, who had a set battle with a rabid dog and was severely mangled, and of two laborers who had a similar battle in or near Coenties slip.

A dog was yesterday killed at the corner of Gold and Beekman streets, and one the day before in Greenwich street, both exhibiting strong symptoms of madness. A large hog was shot in Houston street a few days since, raving with all the violence of a beset forest boar. He bit a large number of hogs in his ravings. There is reason to fear that a great many more persons are now suffering the dreadful anxiety resulting from having been bitten, and that hundreds of dogs and other animals have been inoculated with the virus, which will in due time spread terror and death to a fearful extent, unless prompt measures are taken to arrest the evil.

And now we ask, why is all this waste of human peace and human life? Why, because there is in so many men and women a morbid love of dogs, that they raise a great hue and cry when their favorite curs are molested. One human life is worth more than all the dogs in creation; yet here are five lives gone already; and the destroying animals, many of them inoculated with death, run about our streets by thousands.—N. Y. Jour. of Com.