[14]. Unicum remedium est, nec opinantem in piscinam non ante ei provisam projicere, et, si natandi scientiam non habet, modo mersum bibere pati, modo attollere; si habet, interdum deprimere, ut invitus quoque aqua satietur: sic enim simul et sitis, et aquæ metus tollitur. Lib. v. cap. 27.
But to avoid being tedious, I will proceed to the method I would have pursued in an accident of that terrible kind.
If you by the before description find that the dog who gave the wound is actually mad, then without a moment’s delay let the piece bit, be cut fairly out; if that is not practicable, apply immediately the ointment made of mercurial ointment and precipitate, No. [XXI]. Over which apply mercurial plaister. Give one of the pills No. [X]. every morning and night, and continue this course for a whole month. Let the plaister remain on the place a good while after the sore is healed up.
This method I pursued with a gentleman, and a little boy in New-York, who both were bit by the same dog, without provocation, the dog having never attempted the like before; upon which he was immediately shot, and was found to have all the signs of madness.——The accident happened at noon, and I was immediately sent for; but not being in the way, my assistant dressed it with basilicon, and laid over it a compress with spirit of wine and Camphor, supposing it of no consequence, as the wound was but very small. But on my hearing of it in the evening, I went that moment to their assistance, removed the dressing and applied what I have before mentioned.
I was not mistaken, for the sore and all around, after some time grew angry, and had an unfavourable appearance; but with diligent attendance gradually became better.—— The little boy was bit deeper than the gentleman; His wounds were on both sides of the tendo achillis: But the gentleman’s wound was a little above the maleolus externus on the right leg, inclining to the tendo achillis.
It was in the month of July—I ordered bathing every morning and night, which suited the season. In the mean time, during three months, I gave one grain of calomel every morning and night; and every thing succeeded to our wishes.
But to return; should the mercurial medicines go to the mouth, a gentle cathartic will divert this, for I am an utter enemy to salivation. If however these remedies are administered too late, so that, notwithstanding all those applications, the patient should grow melancholy, have a difficulty in breathing, and a sore throat; but especially a pain in the sore, or bitten part, recourse should be had to frequent cold bathing, or rather plunging; mercurials should be continued, and every method pursued as will be advised in the putrid malignant fevers.
Should the patient however be seized with madness, care should be taken that those about him have no wounds where the least of his spittle may be introduced; and that the deplorable patient is rendered incapable to make any wounds or mischief on himself, or those who attend him; as he will be apt to snap and bite about him like a dog. He should be sewed up in a hammock, to which his arms should also be confined: in this method he may, by help of a tackle, be plunged up and down in the sea, but not his head under water. This is far superior to the unnatural and cruel way of smothering with beds, where the patient has no chance at all left.
The subject is melancholy; but, willing to contribute all the relief in my power to the distressed, I have been insensibly led on; and summed up all that might promise success. Innumerable are the remedies delivered to us, but few prove successful if the case be real.
Of all, I never knew any meet with better success than where mercury was concerned; and as I have been so fortunate as to have experienced the exalted virtue of that great medicine, in this and other deplorable cases, I stand so much upon the firmer grounds, to recommend it beyond any other medicine that I am acquainted with at present.