Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-12
PAsrEuR,s REMEDY.
The French Chemist's MethoA Of Trest'
Ing the Bite Of Mad Dog.

From the St Louis Republjcau
PARIS Nov. 13.-Ihave Just visited the great
Dr. Pasteur, who, during the past fortnight has
announced the discovery of what he believes
10 De an antidote for the bite of q mad dog. ne
is not an Old man, being probably not over DO
years OF age. His well-trimmed chin whiskers
are slightly gray, but his hair Is still quite dark.
lie Is not over five feet seven inches high, butts
rather stoutly built. One leg is stiff He speaks
NO Engish. His speech is slow and distinct
ana ms bearing is unassuming and modest.
nen entered his Office found 1t filled with
patients who had come from all parts of Europe
70 DE treated by him for bites OF mad dogs Ills
assistants were busily engaged treating ugly
looking wounds on the legs, arms, and bodies
OF patients while he stood by and superintended
latiOn.
II do not vet know any remedy for the pa:
tlent aIter the disease has manifested 1tselI
said DR.. Pasteur. ''All my discoveries. so far,
relate only to preventing hydrophobia AFTER
persons have been bitten. That antidofe, L be-
eve b aays for Of the twenty per,
There was a card published by the great
in which she said thar she had personally
known OF six cases of animals and persons
bitten by mad dogs and with no treatment ZEN
Whatever not one of these cases developed into
asked.
"That is quite possible" replied the doctor.
VINO are bitten do not become mad. l do not
claim my experiments to be conclusive, al.
persons and several hundred cases Of dogs and
rabbits and other animals, and not one SO
treated has been Affected"
"HOw long does it take for the disease to
manifest itself?"
Usually the victim shows symptoms of
hydrophobia within six months after the bite,
but sometimes it is three or four years. After
that time l would consider the danger past
Inc rst symptoms are paralysis It Is disease s
bitten"
docs fear enter largely into the chances lead
"Fear may weaken the nervous force and so
make the person more susceptible to the effects
after having been bitten, but fear cannot pro-
duce hydrophobia. 1t never comes spontane-
ously, but always through a bite, or at least
through the saliva OF an animal having the
disease. If you have slight scratch on your
skin and mad dog should lick that scratch.
you might get hydrOphobia."
Nv hat Is your method?' was asked.
II began my experiments in 1892, in this
way" replied DR.. Pasteur. II took Il portion of
the spinal cord of q dog, which had died OF hy-
droPhobia, and with that l inoculated a rabbit
in the first membrane of the brain. 1t went
mad in fifteen days. Then, with a portion of
the spinal cord OF this rabbit inoculated am
other RABBIT In the same way and II went mad
IN thirteen days, and SO on. continued inOcu-
laiOns from rabbit to rabbit, finding the
the ninetieth time produced hydrophobla in
only seven days. l then took very small por-
tons of the spinal cord of this ninetie;h rabbit
and which contained the greatest virulcnce yet
obtained and suspended these bits o. virus III
empty bottles, in which the air was kept very
f dry by means OF potash on the bottom OF the
colo temperature the virus loses all its
strength. The time required for this loss de-
and GOODNESS of the air. Then of this virus
which has lost its strength take "a small por
ton dissolved In sterile bOui!lOn. and with Il
Pravaz syringe Iinoculate the animal Zach
day inOculate It again with virus, just a little
stronger each time, until at last the system has
become so accustomed to the poison that can
use the virus which had not been dried at all,
anu which wOuldproduce hydrOphObia in seven
days ii the system has not been so treated to it
in this way, and not one has become mad"
In other cOuntries?'
mo; there is just as much in America in
some parts AS in France. 1t does not depend
much on climate, for il never comes spontane-
DR.. Pasteur then conducted me to the base
ment, where, In cages, he has hundreds of rab-
bits, some of which have been inoculated and
having hydrophObia. Those which he did not
inOculate he watched for the symptoms of the
disease, which in rabbits usually manifests it.
self in eleven days, they being more susceptible
to it than any other animal. He also has sew
eral dogs, but these were not shown.
. In our company now was boy who had been
ago, ana who Is now under treatment. He
comes to the doctors Office every day. The boy
Is ,s ABOUT 10 years old: ne Is greatly petted by
young hero. The pOy's little brother was at
tackled by the mad dog. and this brave fellow
rushed between them, and the dog seized hold
of his left thumb. He then took Ills right hand
and endeavored to wrench the beasts jaws
apart, but the animal was too strong for him.
Then he pulled oil one Of his shoes with his free
hand and beat the dog over the head with the
heel OF the shoe until ne killed him. His hands
were fearfuliy lacerated, and DIR. Pasteur had
little hopes OF saving him at first, but as time
passes his hopes are increasing. The boy has
been awarded medal for his bravery by tue
government.