James Buchanan Scantlin |
| Posted 2017-03-04 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, October 14, 1908, page 5, column 5 Dread Seizure Hydrophobia Fortells Doom J. W. Scantlin Bitten By Varmint Twelve Days Ago is Victim Of Rabies Ignores Opportunity To Get Pasteur Treatment (From Sunday's Daily) Overcast by the shadow of impending death, at the county hospital sits J. B. Scantlin, the trapper who on August 28 was bitten in the forehead by a skunk. The first fell symptoms that hydrophobia is in his blood, have shown the end. When the mysterious impulse of the seizure grips the doomed trapper, broken nails spasmodically tear at a bleeding cheek already farrowed with ruts and frantic fingers tear out tuffs of iron gray hair. Scantlin was bit by the hydrophobic skunk while asleep early in the morning in his tent in Lawler gulch, two miles from the Hillside mine. He was brought here yesterday from Hillside station by Erwin Shultz and lodged in the hospital. After his arrival in the hospital and while under observation of the attending physicians, he was handed a drink of water. He immediately dropped the cup on the floor, spilling the water. Afterwards he tried to push the cup out of his apartment between the bars of the door. He immediately regained consciousness, however, and said to those around him, 'I know better than that, but I can't help it.' Physicians believe the refusal to drink of water under such circumstances is an unmistakable evidence of hydrophobia, from which it is believed there is absolutely no chance of recovery. Scantlin, while on his way here from Hillside informed Shultz that he felt ill the first time the day before yesterday at his trapper camp in the sinks of Date Creek. His seventeen year old son was absent at the time, searching for their burros that had strayed away from camp. On the way here he talked intelligently with Shutz, suffering only two attacks of scratching and pulling his hair. From these he promptly recovered when seized by Shutz. At the depot he appeared haggard and on reaching the sunlight on the south side of the building before getting into an express wagon involuntarily yelling. He gave a second shout when he lay down in the wagon as soon as his face was exposed to the sunshine. He then covered his face with his hands and acted quietly until he reached the hospital. He insists on not being left alone and assures those about him that he does not wish to harm anyone. It is feared the attacks will develop into convulsions soon. The convulsion stage will be an absolute proof that he is the victim of hydrophobia. The wound on his forehead where he was bitten is thoroughly healed. So far he had not attempted to scratch it. He has not complained of it giving him any annoyance. The night he was bitten, Scantlin was in bed with his son. He was aroused by something walking on his left arm, which was resting on his face. He raised his arm and the animal immediately jumped on his face and fastened its fangs in his forehead. After releasing its death hold he recognized the varmint as the small striped skunk, generally known as the hydrophobia species. He immediately came to Prescott to prepare to leave for the Pasteur Institute. He brought with him the hides of four wild cats, twenty two coyotes and two raccoons which he deposited with the board of supervisors, receiving $112.50 as bounty. He informed the board of supervisors of his misfortune and assistance was offered him to leave for Chicago at once. He accepted the proffered offer and returned that night to Hillside to make final arrangements for the trip with his son. Arriving at Hillside he changed his mind and abandoned the trip to the institute. He was a trapper and hunter by occupation and had been bitten by almost all species of animal he has destroyed. He said this bite is the first one he ever received from any member of the many skunk species. He now regrets that he did not hasten to the Pasteur treatment as he first intended. Scantlin came from Kansas last year and has followed his occupation here since. Transcriber's note: Mr. Scantlin is buried in an unmarked grave at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. |
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