Omaha daily bee., 1892-09-13
TRYING PASIEUR'S NEW CURE
One of the New York Herald's Reporters
is Experimenting on Himself.
HE SUBMITS TO AN ANTl-CH0LERA SHOT
lnoculated with Virus Prepared from Liv-
Cholera Microbes. Brought from Asia
and Kept tor tho Purpose
His After-Experichce.
Copyrighted 1892 by Jane, Gordon penn,ts.l


respondent, and for the benefit of the medi-
cal profession in particular aud humanity
at large. was yesterday inocua,ed with
new anti-cholera virus which Pasteur con
silers as great discovery as that which
made his name Worldwide famous in con
neotion with rabies. Therefore, have re-
mote portion of my body alive with hum
dreds, ave, thousands OF cholera microbes
which have been taken from the dead bodes
Of cholera victims in Saigon. Asia, where the
pest is ever present in its most violent form.
went to tho Pasteur institute at IL
o'clock in the morning. Downstairs the
waiting rooms and big halls were filled with
people waiting for tho anti-rabies inoc-
ulation. 1t was n curious sight, such as
could scarcely be seen elsewhere. People OF
all nations were there, many in their bright
national costumes. Upstairs, at the first
door 10 the left and the second to tho right,
there is the laboratory where Drs. Hofkino
aud Pasteur have worked patiently for two
years. making the discovery which both as
sert confidently will rid humanity of the
dangers Of cholera.
Dr. Hofkine comes forward-a tall fair
young man, with a closely trimmed beard,
long, thin face, large grayish-or own eyes,
high, thoughtful forehead-and reads Pas
teur's brief note, asking him to vaccinate the
CORES spondent of the Herald ut once
Commenced the Operation.
He replies briefly, VERY good" At the
same time he hands me thermometer to
hold under my arm for twelve minutes. SO as
to get the temperature before the operation
is perfected. He hands Pdsteur's message
to Dr. Roux, who give injections. Then he
ha min ot of n hrOn of cholera
virus through microscope.
"These are all right nc says, after mlu-
ute examination. "If any other but cholera
microbes are in the virus, 1t Is dangerous.
1t is the duty of bacteriologists TO discover
any strangers"
Then he proceeded to prepare the virus
which he will use presently on an American
doctor, who wants to take some home. and
commercial traveller who is going to travel
through Russia and on to Altoona and fam
burg.
Dr. Hofkine left the laboratory and led
the way into an anteroom, where he settled
himself at small table covered with jars
full of tubes, glass pipes, Bunsen burners
and small medical glasses covered over with
fltering papers. Taking up one Of tae tubss
he sald
Harvesting the Germs. .--
"That yellow, gelatinous matter which you
see in the tubs Is preparation upon whlch
which cholera microbes thrive" He called
it .'getos.n you see the white film up on top
is covered with cholera germs. have to de-
tach these germs. To do so pour this harm
lass bouilon," following the word by the
dead, upon them. Then | take this bit OF
glass piping, which has been melted tosa high
point, and gently disengage them"
As he did so, while the surface was
skinned, the microbes fiooteu ABOUT on the
bouillion, turning it white. At this point
there was extreme silence, for the doctor
took up one bit OF glass piping, put one end
| in the cholera virus hauid, the other in his
mouth and began to suck the thick yellow
| poison.
1t looked as though he might easily have
| got a ,nouthful of microbes, but when they
| half filed the pipe he held his breath. Tten,
| raising the pipe with the greatest care, he
| gently let she contents fall into one of the
| glasses, which was at once covered with
| paper
The same operation was again repeated.
| Then all the microbes had lett the getos.
| Now the virus was to be liqulted by means
| of addition of bouilon. Drawing 1t up into
a syringe and eyeing it critically, DR..
| Haffkins said
| Here we have eight injections"
| Then he elected seven-eIghths of the whit
| ish yellow liquid. The remainder which Is
| about centimeter cube, form ans,iniection.
| Aud now, having got to the moment when
| the syringe, which is a beautifully made
little instrument of glass, about four inches
long, with hollow needle AT the end two
inches long, is ready for operation. must
introduce to you DIR. Roux. the operator
He is a thin n-faced man OF middle age, with
sharp features, brown beard, and man oi
few words. He performes the injections be-
, cause the government insists on its being
done by a doctor Of medicine.
! Taking the 'shOt."
"Bare your left side here" he said, touch
Ing a point half way down between the tiftl
| rio ana the hip Done, over the intestines
| did SO.
1t Is wonderful, the number Of ideas whicl
| fly through ones head at such moments
Visions of microbes, Asiatic cholera, dea'
| bodies. the cholera stricken Spaniards whici
| had seen during the last epidemic.
| was awakened from some such thoughts b,
| feeling the doctor rubbing picnic acid owe
| the exposed part. This Is disinfectani
With quick action he then adroltly graspe
a coil OF flesh between his finger and thumt
bent over and applied the syringe. Their
was quick, sharp pain as the need
| was thrust home TO the full extent OF its tw
inches, aud the valve of the syringe wa
pressed, and as the virus passed into tn
flesh it prodrcod a sort OF relief. AS the In
strument was drawn out, THAT Is iivin
virus, is it notp' asked Dr. Hafkine.
"Yes," he replied, ''tne microbes com
direct 70 US from corpse, aud pei
sons who have died OF cholera 1
SaIgou,- Asia. They are authentic
The first inoculation which you have r.
ceived is of an atrenuated virus. the SCI
ond, or the contrary. IS highly cultiyate'
To make this plain, the one you nave Is b
low the strength OF the natural choler
microbes; the second incubation, which yo
/. will undergo IN three or four days, will col
tam microbes developed In strength beyon
) ! the ordinary cholera"
A doctor mad asked for some virus TO TAX
back 10 the United States. To him ID
| Hahklne replied:
Can't GIVE out Live Virus.
1--WE eau give you dead virus, which
, Just as efficacious as the living for eighteS
|