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halangeal joint of the left thumb； causing violent inflammation； and resulted in the destruction of the joint。 Three years afterward the joint swelled and became extremely painful； and it was necessary to amputate the thumb。 Campbell reports the case of a private of the Thirteenth Infantry who was bitten in the throat by a large rattlesnake。 The wound was immediately sucked by a comrade； and the man reported at the Post Hospital； at Camp Cooke； Montana； three hours after the accident。 The only noticeable appearance was a slightly wild look about the eyes； although the man did not seem to be the least alarmed。 The region of the wound was hard and somewhat painful； probably from having been bruised by the teeth of the man who sucked the wound； it remained so for about three hours。 The throat was bound up in rancid olive oil （the only kind at hand） and no internal remedy was administered。 There were no other bad consequences； and the patient soon returned to duty。
Le Carpentier sends the report of a fatal case of rattlesnake…bite： A private； aged thirty…seven； remarkable for the singularity of his conduct； was known in his Company as a snake…charmer； as he had many times； without injury； handled poisonous snakes。 On the morning of July 13； 1869； he was detailed as guard with the herd at Fort Cummings； New Mexico； when； in the presence of the herders； he succeeded in catching a rattlesnake and proving his power as a sorcerer。 The performance being over and the snake killed； he caught sight of another of the same class； and tried to duplicate his previous feat； but his dexterity failed； and he was bitten in the middle finger of the right hand。 He was immediately admitted to the Post Hospital； complaining only of a little pain； such as might follow the sting of a bee or wasp。 A ligature was applied above the wound； the two injuries made by the fangs were enlarged by a bistoury； ammonia and the actual cautery were applied； large doses of whiskey were repeated frequently； the constitution of the patient being broken and poor。 Vomiting soon came on but was stopped without trouble； and there were doubts from the beginning as to his recovery。 The swelling of the hand and arm gradually increased； showing the particular livid and yellowish tint following the bites of poisonous snakes。 A blister was applied to the bitten finger； tincture of iodin used； and two ounces of whiskey given every two hours until inebriety was induced。 The pulse； which was very much reduced at first； gained gradually under the influence of stimulants； two grains of opium were given at night； the patient slept well； and on the next day complained only of numbness in the arm。 The swelling had extended as far as the shoulder…joint； and the blood； which was very fluid； was incessantly running from the wound。 Carbolic acid and cerate were applied to the arm； with stimulants internally。 On the 15th his condition was good； the swelling had somewhat augmented； there was not so much lividity； but the yellowish hue had increased。 On the 16th the man complained of pain in the neck； on the side of the affected limb； but his general condition was good。 Examining his genitals； an iron ring 3/4 inch in diameter was discovered； imbedded in the soft tissues of the penis； constricting it to such a degree as to have produced enormous enlargement of the parts。 Upon inquiry it seemed that the ring had been kept on the parts very long； as a means of preservation of chastity； but under the influence of the snake's venom the swelling had increased； and the patient having much trouble in passing water was obliged to complain。 The ring was filed off with some difficulty。 Gangrene destroyed the extremity of the bitten finger。 From this date until the 30th the man's condition improved somewhat。 The progress of the gangrene was stopped； and the injured finger was disarticulated at the metacarpal articulation。 Anesthesia was readily obtained； but the appearance of the second stage was hardly perceptible。 Le Carpentier was called early on the next morning； the patient having been observed to be sinking； there was stertorous respiration； the pulse was weak and slow。 and the man was only partly conscious。 Electricity was applied to the spine； and brandy and potassium bromid were given； but death occurred about noon。 A necropsy was made one hour after death。 There was general softening of the tissues； particularly on the affected side。 The blood was black and very fluid；not coagulable。 The ventricles of the brain were filled with a large amount of serum； the brain was somewhat congested。 The lungs were healthy； with the exception of a few crude tubercles of recent formation on the left side。 The right ventricle of the heart was empty； and the left filled with dark blood； which had coagulated。 The liver and kidneys were healthy； and the gall…bladder very much distended with bile。 The intestines presented a few livid patches on the outside。
Hydrophobia。The bite of an enraged animal is always of great danger to man； and death has followed a wound inflicted by domestic animals or even fowls； a human bite has also caused a fatal issue。 Rabies is frequently observed in herbivorous animals； such as the ox； cow； or sheep； but is most commonly found in the carnivore； such as the dog； wolf； fox； jackal； hyena； and cat and other members of the feline tribe。 Fox reports several cases of death from symptoms resembling those of hydrophobia in persons who were bitten by skunks。 Swine； birds； and even domestic poultry have caused hydrophobia by their bites。 Le Cat speaks of the bite of an enraged duck causing death； and Thiermeyer mentions death shortly following the bite of a goose； as well as death in three days from a chicken…bite。 Camerarius describes a case of epilepsy which he attributed to a horse…bite。 Among the older writers speaking of death following the bite of an enraged man； are van Meek'ren； Wolff； Zacutus Lusitanus； and Glandorp。 The Ephemerides contains an account of hydrophobia caused by a human bite。 Jones reports a case of syphilitic inoculation from a human bite on the hand。
Hydrophobia may not necessarily be from a bite； a previously…existing wound may be inoculated by the saliva alone； conveyed by licking。 Pliny； and some subsequent writers； attributed rabies to a worm under the animal's tongue which they called 〃lytta。〃 There is said to be a superstition in India that； shortly after being bitten by a mad dog； the victim conceives pups in his belly； at about three months these move rapidly up and down the patient's intestines； and being mad like their progenitor； they bite and bark incessantly； until they finally kill the unfortunate victim。 The natives of Nepaul firmly believe this theory。 All sorts of curious remedies have been suggested for the cure of hydrophobia。 Crabs…claws； Spanish fly； and dragon roots； given three mornings before the new or full moon； was suggested as a specific by Sir Robert Gordon。 Theodore De Vaux remarks that the person bitten should immediately pluck the feathers from the breech of an old cock and apply them bare to the bites。 If the dog was mad the cock was supposed to swell and die。 If the dog was not mad the cock would not swell； in either case the pers