Histology. — ''The histopatholoffy of Li/ssa in respect to the 

 propayation of the lys.iavirus". By Mistress E. Winkler- Junius 

 and J. A. LATUiMETEN. (From the Fsyoliiatrio Neurologic 

 Clinic at ütreciit). (Communicated by Prof. C. Winkleh). 



(GommuDicated at the meeting of December 29, 1923). 



Tlianks to the kindness of Professor dk Blieck and Dr. Winckei. 

 of the Veterenary University, we were in the opportunity of 

 examining the nervous system of some dogs and rabbits inoculated 

 with iyssavirus. The inoculationtirae of the different cases diverged 

 from seven weeks to three months. The animals were killed and 

 submitted to an autopsy as soon as the first symptoms of the illness 

 appeared. The (|uestions, which after histopathological examination 

 of the first case came to the front, diverged too much for our 

 limited material to answer them all. We restrained our investigation 

 therefore to one single question, a question that was given us by 

 the clinical and experimental facts concerning lyssa. The clinical 

 point of view, that the unknown virus of lyssa reaches the central 

 nervous system by the peripherical nerves is often defended by the 

 fact, that the duration of incubation is in direct proportion to the 

 distance of the entrance spot from the spinal cord or medulla 

 oblongata. 



Ex|)eriinenlal researches have established this point of view and 

 proved that, the segment of the central uerxous system corresponding 

 to the inoculated limb, first becomes virulent, whilst from that 

 segment the virulence spreads proximally and distally through the 

 nervous system (Schafper). 



According to ui Vestea and Zagari, the Iyssavirus does not 

 propagate along the sheats of the ner\e, but chooses the nerve- 

 substance itself as a medium for its growth, viz. after inoculation 

 with Iyssavirus in the nervus ischiadicus the propagation of the 

 virus is stopped, if directly after inoculation a more central part 

 of this nerve is sectioned and cauterized. 



However there remains a divergence of o[)inion on these points, 

 in detail discussed in the Handbucli von Koi.ii', und Wassehmann 

 by Professor Jos. Koch. This author himself holds llie opinion that 



54 



Proceedings Royal Acad. Amsterdam. Vol. XXVI. 



