Telegram-herald., 1890-07-07

- 4HE LAEOhAICk1-
yirulence. Sometimes 10 was demon
strated that even before they began 70
show any evidences Of hydrophobia the
saliva contained tho deadly germs of
rabies
When a person has been bitten by q
dog. the sore should not Do cauterized.
The cautery sometimes makes bad
wounds, which are difficult 70 hea. and
II produces infammations. The wound
should DO washed out freely with plenty
Of water and treated With antiseptic
dressing. IL is blunder % kill the dog;
such course Is revengeful and brutal.
Some people / have treated only be-
cause they have killed the dog, when
perhaps 10 was not really mad The
doubt, however, remains and in such
cases makes treatment imperative. Tho
popular fallacy which leads TO the
slaughter Of the dos is due 10 supersti-
tion and most people still believe that
with the death of the animal the venom
dies also. ] can not qualify such fool
ishness. 4 few days OF waiting would
have shown whether or not the dog was
really mad-the wound being dressed
meanwhile as have suggested-and IL,
after being watched, the dog showed
signs Of hydrophobia, then the treat
ment could be had without further de-
lay. It is only trining burden for df-
teen days, when it is all over.
As an illustration Of the scepticism
this institute has had TO encounter |
might mention one case in point Judge
Masterson, Of Texas, was bitten, and
bv the advice OF some friends, came
East for treatment Here hs met other
friends, some of them in the profession.
who gravely urged him TO go to Pasteur
at once. Still in doubt he cabled to
Paris. and the reply he received from
Pasteur was: $50 and be treated by
Gibier."
When this institute was established
few months ago l knew not whether
il would be successful or otherwise, but
the system has mot with encouragement
beyond all expectation. There are
some people who have urged me 10
make business of the institute; some
who want TO make il hospital, TO re-
ceive patients and board them and
charge stated prices, but / will not
make it business. There is another
view, however, and it refers TO the
philanthropio aspect Of the question
There would be no objection raised TO
the establishment of an institution on a
scale and plan that would contemplate
a purely philanthropic basis of opera
rfr-s- 20 4hr,
benefits that the people Of France de-
rive from the institute in that country
To such an enterprise | would gladly
contribute the benefit OF ny experience
and would aid in every possible way in
counsel and direction to'secure its per-
manency and success
With regard to the system itsolf. it is
worthy Of remark that among the ply
sicians of the very highest standing tho
proportion Of those who are against it
IS diminishing every day. Among
those who remain in the opposed school,
although they are many of them learned
and DISTINGUISHED men, there is no one
who is an experimcntalist. The leaders
among the opponents OF tho system arc
for tho most part distinguished merely
as theO-icians or clinicians, and not ex-
perimentalists in pathology. But among
the higher men OF tho profession who
work ezpcrimentally. and don't mako
medicine as some men make religion,
and who will not believe where they
don't see. there is no one who is opposed
20 tho method It is gaining ground
steadily among tho progressive men In
the profession. Tho few who arc still op-
posed 10 II are 20 bo fopnd among the
rc1cfI9aGi-es or conservatives. They ro-
call tho saying Of Hippocrates, concern
ing his critics. that thoY hold that a
thing could not be so because they did
not think 70 could be SO, They inyaria-
bly, have perfect confidence in their own
Judgment and believe IL can not be
wrong by any possibility On tho other
hand, the experimentalists too have
perfect confidence. because they have
tried and Investigated for Themselves.
II is my fortune % meet the most pro-
gressive men among The profession in
this countr7 and all take the liveliest
interest in the system The state Med
ical societies in this State and in New
Jersey have given it cheerful vol
como. These a-5 the practical men
tho workers Of tho profession. some q
them men oftse highest distinction.
psrrr f-r-r-- II n