[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The edition of June 29, 1854, carried the following brief news note about a man dying after being bitten by a rabid Newf:
HYDROPHOBIA. — A man named George Gibbs died from hydrophobia, on Monday, at King's College Hospital. It appears that the patient called upon Mr. Webb, surgeon, of Eaton-square, on Saturday evening, and complained of difficulty swallowing liquids, accompanied by the usual construction of the muscles of the chest at supper, the evening before. Mr. Webb directed the attention of Dr. Aldis to the case, and those gentlemen called upon Gibbs on Sunday, at his house in North-place, West-square, when he was much worse. Chloroform had been administered internally without effect. The patient was immediately sent to King's College Hospital, where he died on Monday, after having manifested great violence. Gibbs was bitten at Easter, under the thumb of his left hand, by a Newfoundland dog.
In 1854, Easter occurred on April 16, two months before George Gibbs died. It is not unusual for people infected by a bite from a rabid animal to show no symptoms for weeks or even a couple of months.
In the second sentence above, "construction" is likely an error for "contraction." Pain in the upper chest and even arms is not uncommon in rabies victims.