25 
last, draws attention to it, and says that if it were thoroughly 
carried out the disease might become extinct in 18 months. The 
plan is that all dogs should be placed beyond the power of harming 
animals or human beings for a period of some three or four months. 
Rabies in a dog invariably manifests itself within this period, and 
the result of this expedient would be that all the dogs at present 
infected would die within that period and that the survivors would 
be absolutely free from contagion or the risk of being attacked at 
any future time. This measure must of course be supplemented by 
@ quarantine of similar duration upon all imported dogs. Dr. 
Fleming mentions in his letter that in our isl:nd of Mauritius 
rabies is very prevalent and fatal, because little if anything is done 
to check or suppress it ; while in the island of Bourbon, not far off, 
there has not been a case of rabies or hydrophobia for at least half 
a century, simply because the importation of dogs is not 
permitted. ; 
In 1867 a Metropolitan Streets Act was passed which enables the 
_ police to seize all vagrant dogs. In 1868 it was put in force, and 
_ the number of cases of hydrophotia immediately became greatly 
_ diminished in and around London. 
The above I believe was supplemented by a measure passed in 
1872, but both these measures are not sufficiently stringent as to 
details to eradicate the disease. 
Perhaps, and very probably, our new government may see fit to 
' pass such legislative measures as will banish for ever from our 
‘shores this dire disease. If so, this last terrible outbreak of 
__ hydrophobia will be accompanied by a corresponding blessing. 
_ At the conclusion of Dr. Tyson’s paper, Mr. Ullyett, the Hon. 
Sec., said he had received a message from Dr. Fitzgerald, 
regretting his absence, and asking that the following notes might 
be read :— 
__ When one reflects on the alarming increase of hydrophobia of 
late, and the deeply interesting experiments of Pasteur, one is al- 
most foreed to two conclusions—First, that rabies ought to be 
“stamped out ” by vigorous measures, or, failing that, every bitten 
_ dog should certainly be inoculated. Dr. Tyson has pointed out that 
Pasteur has now succeeded in producing an inoculating virus with a 
much shorter incubation stage than the natural rabies poison, so 
that it exerts its protective influence before the other poison has had 
time to produce its fatal symptoms. It in fact overtakes and over- 
‘eoms the original virus. For my own part, were I bitten by a rabid 
dog, I should not hesitate to be inoculated by Pasteur’s modified 
‘Virus, although I know that only a percentage of those bitten are 
ever affected by hydrophobia. _ Dr. Tyson has told you only a third 
part, but I believe the statistics are better than that. Hunter men- 
