Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-16
A Visit to Pas,sur,s Laboratory.

for an active and efficient campaign.
A Visit to Pssteur's Laboratory.
/ To the Editor of the Republic:
! Through the kindness of Mr.. LailamonC
we obtained permission TO visit the labra
tory of the celebrated NJ. Pasteur (who
unfortunately for US, was confined to IN.
house by illness). On our arrival at the
laboratory we exepcted to meet NJ. Cham
bsrlsnd, but instead was met by his assis
/ tant, with whom he had left instructions tt
show us through all parts of the laboratory.
Thus half of the pleasure of our visit was
lost In not meeting with either of these dis
tinguished gentlemen. However, we were
politly received and shown into the various
rooms where the germs were cultivated fol
| the InnoculatiOn of animals.
Notably, anthrax or spleenic fever, and
chicken cholera. Anthrax Is disease oc.
curing principally in sheep and cattle. and
il almost invariably fatal. Many herds OF
valuable cattle and fiOcks of sheep have
been destroyed by this disease, but are now,
by the discoveries of this eminent scientist,
rendered proof against its rayages, by inoc-
uiation of the attenusted germs. The most
interesting to US, however, was the depart
ment devoted to ''rabies."
After showing US through the various
rooms in which the animals were undergo
ing the period of incubation Of the diseases
above mentioned. we were conducted to the
place where the dogs were confined in
iron cages, and cautioned not to approach
too near them. They were there ready to re-
ceiye the incubation Of the much dreaded
disease, rabies. 1t was panjemonium let
loose. As we would approach the cages
the dogs would spring and snap at US with
fury tlly terriiS-
The rabbits, of which there was quite a
large number, were undergoing the differ
ent stages of rabies; some dead, others dy-
ing. The disease manifests itself by a
complete paralysis, and in that state the
animal dies. They are put under the in
huence Of chlorOform. and q small opening
made into the brain by trephining, into
which the virus Is injected. The animal
dies about the eighth or tenth day. The
brain Is removed, and from this the germ is
cultivated and prepared for injection into
the human.
All o'clock. the hour for the public
clinic We entered the room where the
operation Of inoculating those In attend
ance was to take place. There were
from seventy to eighty persons, Of all ages,
conditions and natiOnalities, this number
being now about the daily average. For
merly there were many more, but since
depots for the Pasteur treatment have been
established In Russia, Hungary, Austria
and Turkey the numbers have gradually
diminished in Paris.
By far the greater number to receive the
treatment were little children, varying in
ages from 4 to 1s and "a years, and yet a
number of old persons, one gentleman a
surgeon In the French navy. The virus
was prepared each day. The requisite
quantity was diluted with veal broth which
had been previously steralised by passing
through the Pasteur filter.
Each person, as their name was called,
stepped forwSrd and barred their side just
below the ribs. The surgeon, after wiping
the skin with a solution of carbolic acid to
prevent any germs entering with the needle
of the hyperdermic syringe, grasped it be-
tween his thumb and finger and plunged
the needle of the instruments full length,
forced the fluid at once into the tissue, his
assistant handing him another instrument
charged with the fund for the next patient
The operation was very rapid, in order TO
get through with so large number as were
present
As We sat Immediately behind the opera
tor who conducted the clinic, we had full
view OF each person as they stood before
us. They all had a more or less anxious
expression of cOuntenance, as, indeed, who
would not, not knowing Just what would
be the result of the poison that was at that
coursing through their blood. Yet
they all seemed to have firm belief in the
efficacy in the treatment ''Pasteur," as
every one left with smile of satisfaction.
seeming to realize that every treatment
brought them nearer to immunity from the
dread disease.
We could not but reflect, as we sat there
and saw parents bring up their little chill
dren, how criminal it was for them to ex-
pose their dear little ones to an untold hor-
ror. for the qualification of keeping a
ugly pug"
NJ. Pasteur regards the discovery of the
celebrated filter which bears his name with
10 less pride than he does many of his
other discoveries-for scientific and hygenic
purposes he says it has no equal.
Knowing well for many years that
typhoid fever, cholera and other zymatic |
diseases, were largely, If not entirely, COM
through impure or contaminated |
water. 1t has been constant study and
systematic course of experiment for the |
last ten years. with him. to discover a
means by which water could be freed from
hose heterogeneous. Finally, in all |
these years of experiments, he has so per-
iected this filter-with the full assurance
On his part-that it will remove from water |
ihese poisonous germs, as well as all or
yanic or other matter held In suspension |
Ind render it absolutely pure.
A. A. BLoUNT.