Hydrophobia

New Yokk, July 7- Many of the most distinguished physicians and scientists assembled at the meeting of' the Neurological Society last evening to discuss the questions connected with hydrophobia. Dr. William A. Hammond occupied the chair, and spoke of the peculiar features of the case of "William McCormick, that convinced the physicians that the man had true hydrophobia. The inability to swallow either fluida or solids was very marked. It was absolutely impossible for him to swallow water or ice, and when attempts were made the substance was thrown from the mouth with violence. The flow of saliva was marked, and constant spasnis indioated a deep-seated disease of the nerve centers. Dr. Hammond admitted that while the disease might be blood poison and changes iu the organs of life might have been caused by the assimilation of that poison, yet it was more than possible, thst it was a true nervous disease, like tetanus. While no treatment had effected a cure in a well authenticated case, yet the application of a galvanic current had in the only case in which it had been tried, prolonged the patient's life several days. After speaking of the cauteries and other methods of destroying the virus Dr. Hammond advised by all mean8 the excisión of all the parts involved. He then read resolutions urging the taxation of dogs, and believing that niuzzling did no good, because it was iinpossiblo to keep a dog constantly confined. He advocated Bourels" method of blunting the teeth, the filing of the incisor and the canine teeth to make the bite of a dog as harmless as that of a herbivorous animal. The resolutions were adopted, and a committee appointed to investígate further and report at a future meeting. Jennings and his foreman, who were bitten by a dog whose bite oaused the death of Ada Clare, nee Miss Noyes, were present, and were questioned with interest. A general discussion of the subject of hydrophobia thon took place.