Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27
THE RABIES.
PAsTEUHs GREAT WORK.

IroBhouou cr IT'S fep<f U" INV
Asa,ss, HydrophobIa ''-rbe BASIS OF HIS
Method.
The Popular Science Monthly Tor
January, 1886, prints q translation OF
NJ. Louis Pasteur's paper read in the
French Academy Of Sciences on oc'o-
Der 20, 1885. describing the first sue
cessful results of his experiments IN
incubation Against Hydrophobia."
This paper is so important to humanity
and will be so deeply interesting to all
the medical profession that we reprint
il; almost entire from the Popular
Science Monthly, as below
The prevention Of rabies, as | have
described it, in my own name and the
names of my collaborators, in previous
notes, certainly constitutes a real pro-
gress in the study Of that malady-a
progress which was, however, more
scientific than practical. Its applica-
ton was precarious. OF twenty dogs
that had then treated ! could not as
sert that had made more than fifteen
or sixteen proof against rabies.
II was expedient, on the other hard,
to finish the treatment by final ex-
ceedingly virulent incubation with virus
Of control, in order to confirm and
strengthen the refractory state. Finally,
prudence made it necessary to keep the
dogs under observation for longer
time than the period Of incubation OF
the disease produced by the direct
incubation OF the last virus; and
it thus required an interval not
less, perhaps, than three or four
menths to be assured Of a fully
refractory condition. These neces-
sites considerably limited the appllca-
ton Of the method. The method, also,
did not accommodate itself readily to
contingencies, which were always i'm
mediate, growing out Of the accidental
and sudden character Of the bites Of
rabid animals. 1t was therefore neces-
sarv to obtain, if possible, a more rapid
method, and one more capable OF giving
a security which might be considered
perfect over dogs. Besides, how, be-
fore reaching that stage OF progress,
could we venture to make an expert
ment on man:
After almost innumerable expert
ments | obtained preventive method,
practical and prompt, Of which suih-
GENTLY numerous and assured successes
have been gained upon dogs to give me
confidence in its general applicability to
all animals and to man himself.
BAsIs OF HIS METHOD.
This method is based essentially upon
the following facts:
incubation of rabbit, by trepan-
Ming. under the dUrd mater, with the
poisonous marrow Of mad-dog, always
gives rabies to the animal after mean
period of incubation Of about fifteen
days. If the virus is passed from this
first rabbit to a second, from this one
to a third, and so on, by the same me-
tbod of incubation there is shortly
manifested more and more marked ten
dency toward shortening OF the period
of incubation of the rabbits success
siyely inoculated. After from twenty to
twenty-five passages from rabbit to rab-
bit we arrive at period Of incubation
of eight days, which is maintained du-
ring a new series of from twenty to
twenty-five passages. Then we have a
period of incubation of seven days,
which occurs with striking regularity
during new series Of passages rising
70 the ninetieth. At least that is the
number | have now reached without
having hardly yet observed tendency
to slight further shortening OF the pc
Rod.
ITS PRACTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC
POINTS.
The experiments of this character,
which began in November, 1882, have
already been continued for three years
without the series having been inter
rupted or without my having used any
other virus than that from rabbits
which successfully died rabid. No
thing, therefore, is more easy than to
have at ones disposition, during con-
siderable intervals Of time, a virus oil
perfect purity, always identical, OF
nearly so. This is the practical point
Of the method.
The marrows of these rabbits are in
fected with rabies OF constant virulence
in their whole extent. If we detact
from them pieces a few centimetres
long, taking the greatest possible pre-
cautiOnsto insure their purity, and sus'
pend them in dry air, the virulence o.
the rabies in them will slowly pass
away, till tits quite extinguished. The
duration Of the process varies some
what with the thickness Of the mar
row, but depends chiefly on thu
exterior temperature-the lower thu
temperature the longer the yiru
lence lasts. These results consti-
tute the scientific point of the method
IN. Pasteur here explains that g if the
infected marrow is protected from thC
air and is kept moist in carbonic aciC
I the virulence will last for severa
months at least, without change in in
tensity, provided it be guarded agains
/ the attack Of microbes from without" "
HOW TO MAKE A DOG RABIES-PRoOF
These facts being substantiated, w
have the following method of making I
dog, within a reasonably short time
proof against rabies:
In series Of TASKS, the air Of which
is kept dry by pieces of potash in thu
bottom, we suspend each day a piece
of freshly-infectcd marrow from rab
bit that has died of rabies developed
after seven days of incubation. EverJ
day at the same time we inoculate IN
der the skin of dog Pravaz syringe
full Of sterilzed broth, in which ha
been soaked small piece Of one Of tn,
marrows we are keeping in desic
cation, beginning with one of thos,
which we have prepared seve
raj days before our operation j
performed, so as to be sure that it i
not Of full strength. On that subjec
we have informed ourselves by previ
Gus experiments. We operate in tn
same manner on the following day
| with mora recent urlrrows seoarate,