The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-07
PAsTEuR's METHOD.
Cruel Treatment Of Rabbits in the
Great Doctors Laboratory.

Great Doctors Laboratory.
NJ. Pasteur's laboratory, writes Paris
correspondent of The London Telegraph,
is long, narrow, low-roofed building,
which fringes the ground stretching
before the entrance portico of the
Ecole Normale. II is divided into
three comtarpmcnts. In the center is
the place devoted to trepannmg opera
tions, a large space being reserved for
the laboratory proper, where the v,rous
and the sterilized bouilon, or beef tea,
with which it is mingled arc prepared.
The rabbits and other animals are kept
in the cellars of the establishment.
The first proceeding witnessed this
afternoon was the extraction of the
virus from diseased animal which
had died in high state of rabies. The
carcass was opened from the skull
downward, and the whole of the spinal
cord from the medu oblongata, or
brain bulb, rs the French call it, TO the
lower parts was laid bare. Then COM
1'menced the delicate operation of taking
It out whole and entire. This was
neatly performed by the assistant, who
with pincers placed the long strip of
marrow Oh q saucer. The bulb was
then separated from the strip, and the
matter contained in it, which was the
most potential virus that could be ex-
tractcd, was used for inoculating the
living rabbit. The strip of marrow,
containing less powerful, but equally
useful virus, was cut with scissors in
to several parts. each ono of which was
tied with thread, and placed in q glass
bottle. where it was suspended over q
bed of caustic potash to undergo the
drying process. The potash, of course,
does away with the necessity OF using
the ordinary and less desirable mode Of
heating in ovens or otherwise. The
marrow. after having been dried in this
manner for Il certain number of days,
is pulvcrized with Il pcstle and mortar
and then mixed with the bou Ion.
After this it is ready for use on man,
the different degrees of virulence being
regulated by the condition of the rab-
bit from which it is extracted at tho
time of the animals death, and the
longer or shorter period during which
it was dried. The virus is obtainable
from the nerves of the animals body.
but is strongest in the spinal cord and
the mclulla oblongata. The operation
of trcpanning the rabbits and injecting
them with the virus is painful one to
witness. NJ. Pasteur's opponents in
England and elsewhere are loud in their
dcnunciations of the cruelty to animals
which is daily perpctrated in the labora-
tory Of the Rue GUlm; but they can
hardly be too often reminded that NJ.
Pasteur has lofty and noble object in
view, and that the sufferings inflicted
on animals will be more than counter
balanced by relief from pain and tho
terrible danger which his philanthropic
efforts will bring forth for humanity ut
large. 1t must also be remembered
that the rabbits before undergoing the
''trepanning" are put under clloro-
form. This afternoon two fine, fat,
well-conditioncd rabbits were taken out
Of the cages in the cellars. The first
animal operated upon had its head
clipped bare to the bone, and was then
placed upon the trepanning board, its
forepaws and legs being strapped to
the table. A small. bag-shapcd piece
of white blotting paper soaked i'm chlor-
oform was placed over the animals
head and we'll against its nose. The
skull was then inciscd and the virus in
jected near the brain. The animal
struggled slightly and hcavcd, but the
chloroform soon made it completely in
sensible and dazed. In the meantime
its companion came near the sufferer