National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-09

fact, servants OF all kinds. For poor
man this succession Of demands Is terribly
ing, and he must annually curse the old
Roman Tatius, who is said to have origi-
mated this custom. Louis XIV tried to
suppress the usage Of giving indiscriml.
nately, which had ruiDed good many OF
his court, but, powerful as he was, the at
tempt was failure. How could II be other
wise in country where the government
allowsits employees to beg, and when II en-
courages the habltby giving qualifications"
TO its servants In the government Offices
the gifts at the close Of the year are looked
upon as part Of the wages, so much so
that the amount is regulated; each subordi-
nate receives about a twelfth OF his years
salary.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Last evening being unusually pleasant
the customary reveillon was duly cele-
brated. In spite OF the dull times there
was an attempt at gayety, and the restau
rant keepers and pork butchers, who are
allowed on this occasion to keep open all
night, did a thriving business. At those
churches where the music is particularly
fine, at ST. Eustache and st. Roch, for ex-
ample, the crowd was immense, and long
before the midnight mass began IL was i'm
possible to get inside. Masked balls were
numerous, and some of them were well at
so much In favor as It used to be- A part
Of the animation last evening came from
the interest which everybody had In know
ing the result of the vote on the Tonquin
credits. The chamber did not adjourn UNI
III nearly II O'Clock, and when the news Of
the vote reached the petite bourse on the
Boulevard des Italiens, the excitement was
intense for short time. Then, when every
one had commented according to his fashion
on the slim majority obtained by the gov
eminent and the probable effect Of the vote,
the crowd separated to spend the night In
joyous reyelry.
NJ. PAsrEURs PATIENTS.
The telegraph has probably told youfof
the safe arrival OF the Newark boys who
were sent over TO be treated by NJ. Pasteur.
The number OF applications daily made to
the eminent savant shows that the quantity
OF people bitten by mad dogs is much larger
than was ever supposed. AS everything re-
lating to NJ. Pasteur's experiences is i'm
portant to the whole world | send you some
notes about q curious case which has lust
been reported. On Nov. / DIR. Tachard, OF
Colonies, one Of the Partisan suburbs, was
called to see n young man of 90, who
complained Of violent pains in his right
arm, which he attributed to an excess of
gymnastlc exercises. On the following day
he was unable TO swallow drops of LIQUID.
The doctor questioned the young mans
family, and learned that in March, 1884, he
had been lightly bitten In the right hand by
a dog, which was not thought to be mad, but
who was Immediately afterward killed.
The doctor examined the scar caused by
the bite; II was red but not painful. Be-
lleving that his patient was suffering from
an attack OF hydrophobia, the doctor at once
consulted NJ. Pasteur
~ can prevent the disease from appear
ing, but cannot cure II after 1t has shown
itself,n said M. Pasteur.
DIR. Tachard, aided by colleague, at
tempted to save his patient, but without
effect, for the young man died In the midst
OF horrible sufferings, eight days after the
first symptoms appeared. This case is one
OF the most curious ones that has ever been
reported, and II is believed to be the first
authentic one where madness has shown
itself nineteen months after the bite. Per.
haps the gymnastlc exercises were the acct
dental cause Of sending the infectious ele-
ments Of the wound into the lymphatics Of
the arm and thence to the brain. Whatever
1t may be, this case demonstrates that q
person bitten by mad dog twelve months
and more before cannot be considered as
entire out Of danger, and that NJ. Pasteur's
| prev ive method Of incubation would be
applicable to 1t. In flfty-eight cases Of hy-
drophobia reported to the hygienic council
since 1881 the period Of incubation has been,
on an average, from three to four months,
but in the present case there can be no
| doubt that death was result of the bite re-
ceived In March, 1884.
DANIEL D'ARTHEz.