24 “ 
at present is only problematical. The following results have teen 
obtained in connection with rabies in rabbits. If a rabbit is 
inoculated with the virus of a rabies stricken dog, the rabbit becomes 
rabid in 15 days. From this rabbit another is inoculated, and so 
on in a series, the virus becoming quicker in its effe(t, and the 
period of incubation proportionately shorter, until the inoculated 
rabbit dies within seven days after the operation. Thus Pusteur 
has at his disposal a virus ranging from practically nil to a strength 
which will kill in a week, and his treatment is accordirgly as 
follows : Taking a dog he inoculates him the first day with the 
comparatively harmless virus, and on-the following day the process 
is repeated, until at last inoculations are made with virus only a 
day old, and which is strongly virulent, no bad results whatever 
following, although such an inoculation would be fatal to an 
unprotected animal. A dog so treated is alleged to be rabies proof. 
Pasteur had thus unfailingly experimented with 30 dogs, when in 
July 6th last a boy was brought to him who had been severely 
bitten by an undoubtedly rabiddog. From the following day to July 
16th the boy was inoculated with virus ranging from a fortnight 
until a day old, it becoming proved by simultaneous experiments 
that after the first five days the same virus was invariably fatal to 
rabbits, and now the boy is exceedingly well and pronounced cured. 
Pasteur has several other patients under treatment, and expresses 
the greatest confidence as to results. 
In the Graphic for November 21st last, there are two excellent 
engravings of Pasteur and his ‘“‘ experiments for the cure of hydro- 
phobia,’’ yet the above experiments on the human body by no means 
settle the question that we have as yet discovered a real antidote to 
hydrophobia. In the first place the boy above mentioned may 
never have had |.ydrophobia, even had he not been vaccinated with 
the poison, for we know already that two-thirds of the people so 
bitten do not contract the disease. 
Again sufficient time has not yet elapsed to show that the poison 
is destroyed, supposing he had it; for as I have already mentioned, 
the incubation stage may in some cases last a twelve month. 
In yesterday’s paper the following telegram, dated New York, 
December 6th, appeared :—‘‘ The steamship Canada, which sails 
on Wednesday next, takes four poor children from Newark, New 
Jersey, who have been bitten by a mad dog, for trearment by M. 
Pasteur. The expenses of the journey have been defrayed by public 
subseription.”’ 
There is still remaining one plan of treatment of a preventive 
kind, which, if carried out, would probably cause the extinction of 
rabies entirely, and therefore of hydrophobia. Dr Fleming, in @ 
long and very interesting letter to the Times for November 26th 
