THE CONQUEST OF HYDROPHOBIA 213 



infrequently dying in the hospitals of Paris from 

 this horrible and painful disease. "I have not yet 

 dared to treat human beings after bites from rabid 

 dogs," Pasteur wrote to Jules Vercel, "but the mo- 

 ment is perhaps not distant, and I have almost 

 decided to begin by myself, — that is, inoculating 

 myself with rabies, and then arresting the conse- 

 quences, for I am beginning to feel better and am 

 growing very sure of my results." 



While Pasteur was making more sure of his 

 methods a circumstance occurred which overcame 

 his indecision. A little nine-year-old boy, Joseph 

 Meister, was brought by his mother to Pasteur's 

 laboratory. Two days previously the boy, while 

 on his way to school, had been furiously attacked 

 by a mad dog, thrown to the ground and severely 

 bitten about the face and hands. He was rescued 

 by a laborer who happened to be near, and the dog 

 was subsequently shot. An examination showed 

 that its stomach was filled with hay and bits of 

 wood which the infuriated creature had devoured 

 in its mania for biting. The boy's wounds (he had 

 been bitten in fourteen places) were covered by 

 saliva. Doctor Weber, who was consulted in the 

 evening, washed and cauterized the boy's wounds, 

 and advised the parents to take him to Paris for a 



