Hydrophobia

Deaths from Hydrophobia. - From the Sheffield Independent. - A sensation of horror was created in the town by the report that William Wilkinson, a grinder, had died of hydrophobia, and that another man was labouring under its dreadful symptoms.

In the day, an inquest was held on Wilkinson. His wound had healed, and he had been able to be at his work until Thursday; when about to wash himself he manifested symptoms of hydrophobia; when he put his hands into the water he was seized with convulsions, and laboured under all the horrors of that intractable disease, till death put an end to his sufferings at half-past eleven on Saturday.

He was quite conscious when the fits were coming on, which were invariably produced by any attempt to swallow either liquids or solids, or by the presence of a stranger in his room; and he requested his attendants not to come into the room without calling to him before they opened the door; and when he found the symptoms of the attack had gone off he requested them to come in. He also made them bind him down in bed, in case he should hurt anyone.

The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of died of hydrophobia.

An inquest on a second death from this horrible disease was held on Tuesday, at the Burnt Tree, on James Ibbotson.

George Brookfield,of Attercliffe, a workman for Messrs. Marsh and Sheppard, in Forge lane, knew the deceased, who worked at the twelve o'clock wheel. On the 28th of February, Wilkinson, who died on Saturday, was passing the French Horn, Shudehill, with his dog, when he was called in by Ibbotson. Immediately on entering the house the dog flew at William Harrison, the landlord's son, but did not bite him.

George Booker then called to the dog by his name, Ben, and the dog jumped upon his knees, and bit him on the forefinger. Booker pushed the dog from him, and Ibbotson called the dog, which jumped on his knee, and seized him by the lower lip, tearing it down to his chin. Ibbotson called to Wilkinson to take his dog off, saying, "This is past a joke." Wilkinson immediately took the dog off, and was himself bitten through the thumb of the right hand. The landlady sent witness for the police; but before they arrived, Wilkinson and his dog were gone. They went, however, to Wilkinson's house, and the dog was drowned.

Mary Ibbotson, mother of the deceased, who was twenty three years of age, said, after he was bit he applied to Mr. Taylor, to whom he went till his lip was healed. He had been poorly several days before last Friday, with dizziness, sickness, and headache. On Friday, he went to see Wilkinson, who was then ill; and when he came home he looked very much changed. He had fits before he went to bed that night, and grew worse and worse till Sunday morning, when he died.

Booker, who was bitten at the same time as Ibbotson and Wilkinson, remains well.