The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-11-29
INOCCULATION.
Its Use As a Preventive of
HydrophObia.
GLADSTONE vs.. DIR. REYILLE
An Eloquent and Scholarly Discus.
sion OF the Darwin Theory ofEvo-
luton, by the Grand Old Man."
BELFAST, October 81, 1885.

BELFAST, October 81, 1885.
Correspondence of THE HERALD:
This has been, or promises to be, al
important year in medical or surgica
sense. TWoof the ailments to which al
mankind, by virtue of birth in this
world, seem to be inalienably heirs, and
which have hitherto baffled the patience
] and erudition of the most distinguished
modern disciples of the ancient Escula-
Plus would now seem to be on their last
legs. The first is no less than that
scourge which in point of effective
work ranks as far ahead of smallpox as
an epidemic to be dreaded as cannon is
preferable to a derringer for war SER
vices. tits the cholera. All your read
ers are no doubt familiar with the de-
Velopments made public owing to the
proposition to yaccinate or inocculate
for cholera, as preventive, the same
as Is done for smallpox. The develop
ments and excitement in this instance,
singular as it may seem, died out with
the spread of the scourge in Spain, and
have not been heard of since, though
we may anticipate a revival of the
theory with the abatement of the real
ity. But inocculation as preventive
of cholera has not had fair test as yet.
In Spain, the classes who seem to suffer
most, not only are opposed to all ex-
periments but actually raised up against
the doctors who were endeavoring to
alleviate their sufferings. The theory
is one of those things that yet occupies
very disputable ground; and it is not
likely to become popular, even though
founded upon absolutely impregnable
principles without a severe Struggle
even in this age of boosted wisdom and
learning. A man who is not attacked
by the cholera always holds in mind
that he has chance for escape, there
fore we would ''rather bear those ills we
have than fly to others that we know
not of''-and inocculation for cholera
is one of the latter. But the more re-
cent discovery, while it does not con-
Germ nearly so many, and while not of
an epidemic nature, is even more fatal,
and in the catalogue of awful ailments
it disputes with the most horrible for
the highest posItiOn-it Is NO less than
hydrophobia 'or rabies. There seems
to be reason to believe that this develop
ment will prove sure relief for this
frightful affection, the tests made I'D to
the present time having. as | under
stand it, all proven successful. Con-
sideriDg The fact that hydrophobia is on
marked increase all over the world the
discovery will be ha ! I'd with pleasure by
the medical fraternity and those who
need the services or this much-abused
class of humanitarianS-w profess
sion, however, Is not free from the con-
tamination of the most uamitigated
scoundrels who flourish under the harm
less sobriquet, "quacks." In two cases
and both were extreme-of hydropho-
bia the virus of a rabbit has been in
troduced into the body of the person
suffering from the rabies and the eff
feet has been perfect and speedy cures
in both instances. tits alleged that the
virus from the rabbit neutralizes that in
the system of the patient and that alb
solute and permanent cures are effected
as a result. Considering the rapidity
with which cases of hydrophobia in.
crease from year to year, this last dis
covery, together with the reasonable
confidence of its being so we'll assured
in fact as to prove successful in the most
trying tests is one that may give human
ity cause for rejoicing.
The blue stockings of this age are for
ever talking about the might Of mind
and what an infallible guide educated
reason is; but stern facts teach us that
> 4 10
the intelligence the wider become the
differences of opinion; and with the
growth of questions there is CORE
spending development in opposing
ideas. Contemplating the matter in
calmness it does seem that truth should |
not be so hard to find out; yet when |
one sees learned men. (men of acknowl- |
edged genius) differing in views as /
widely as the poles diyerge on the same !
subject, it docs cause "a poor ktraveler /
along life's way to pause and wonder: |
Is it possible to find out which is right |
md which wrong-or Is there any truth 1
n the World2 Instead of increased in
diligence begetting renewed confidence
n the might and domination OF truth,
greater knowledge creates further doubt,
md often destroying the standard of |
ruth, leaves mankind Ito float on an
Jcean of raging doubts without the hope
If rescue. AS one age follows another the
alleged conflict between science and
-eiigion becomes more and more pro
bounced until many who were noted as
defenders of the Christian faith have
.urned to be the most talented destroy
,rs of confidence in the divinity OF the
Bible. Henry Ward Beeche-, TO use his
,wn language. believes in evolution
like thunder" and TO maintain his
position finds it necessary to destroy
he popular belief in the Bible as re-
ord of Gods direct revelation to man
lind. Mr.. Beecher is a scholar, rea-i
Ioner, an alleged Christian and man
whose opinion carry great weight not
,nly with those intellectually his lnferl-
,rs but with those who are his peers.
We on this side the pond had naturally
begun to accept Beecher's ideas when,
oil another intellectual sun comes 70
he front and holds views absolutely
md in direct opposition to those OF the
merican divine. The Britisher IS
,tatesman, a scholar. a logiclan, ana
while he is one who has not gwen. as
much public attention to scriptural
he is the peer OF his Ameri-
can opponent in every respect: rms
man is none other than the ex-Premier
Gladstone. He does not believe IN. OAR I