That Time a Man With Rabies Used a Madstone and Died

The Real Truth About Vaccines

Have you ever heard of a madstone?

A feature article in the 1908 Evening Star in Washington, D.C. alerted people to a new treatment for rabies so that they would stop using madstones.

Apparently, it is what they used to ‘treat’ folks who were exposed to rabid animals back before we had rabies vaccines.

How?

You placed the madstone on your skin and it was supposed to draw out the rabies.

Carney Madstones sold for $10 in 1908 (about $370 today).

Did it work?

Obviously, this dog (1913) did not have rabies.

Not if you were really exposed to a rabid animal!

That Time a Man With Rabies Used a Madstone and Died

Unfortunately, some people found that out the hard way…

A man exposed to rabies in 1908 used a madstone and died.

A man in Oklahoma, in 1913, decided to use a madstone instead of new rabies shots that Louis Pasteur had developed.

“Mad-stones are survivals of ancient superstition and bad reasoning.”

Shobal Vail Clevenger, M.D.

The man died.

Carney madstones were still being marketed through the 1930s, when we had a real treatment for rabies!

And fortunately, now, with the wide availability of rabies vaccines and rabies immune globulin, hopefully no one would think about risking their lives and using a madstone instead.

More on Rabies

• A 6-year-old in Florida With Rabies Has Died

• Is Rabies Also on the Rise?

• The Tale of the Mad Stone, the One-Time ‘Cure’ for Rabies

• Recalling the role of the madstone, once used to “cure” rabies

• Mysterious ‘Madstone’ Once Used to Prevent Rabies, Treat Bites

• Ozark Madstone