PEOGEESS OF MICEOSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 253 



from that of ordinary Difflugians that the species may be regarded as 

 pertaining to another genus, for which the name of Catharia would 

 be appropriate." 



The Anatomical Changes in ITydrophohia Oanina. — A good paper 

 on this subject appears in a late number of the ' Medical Eecord ' 

 (Sept. 30), which says that the long-continued epidemic of last winter 

 has, through the assistance of his colleagues of the Imj)erial Veteri- 

 nary School in Vienna, furnished Dr. Benedikt* with numerous 

 preparations from the brain and spinal cord of different animals that 

 had been attacked with rabies. Before describing these, the author 

 discusses the difference presented by the disease as seen in man and 

 in dogs, which has also a sjiecial significance with reference to the 

 anatomical appearances. In both the disease begins with a restless 

 melancholia. In the dog this passes into raving madness, while in 

 man this form of mental affection is wanting. In man illusions and 

 hallucinations take but small share in the symjjtoms, while in dogs 

 they are plainly a prominent feature. In man there is the greatest 

 degree of hyperaesthesia, with highest possible susceptibility for con- 

 vulsions ; in dogs, diffused paralysis and aphonia are among the 

 earliest and characteristic symptoms. In the human being there is 

 the most extreme reflex excitability in the movements of deglutition, 

 so that not only the raising a glass to the mouth, but even the sight of 

 fluids, will induce violent spasmodic action in those organs ; whereas 

 in dogs there is a paralysis of deglutition for fluids. In man the 

 severest spasms of the respiratory mtiscles are present, so severe as 

 sometimes to cause asphyxia. Such spasms are not observed in dogs, 

 which die generally from exhaustion. 



Dr. Benedikt has studied the pathological changes by making 

 seven separate vertical sections through the hemisi^heres in dogs, and 

 has observed such plain and striking pathological changes as could, he 

 observes, only have been previously overlooked by reason of an imper- 

 fection of the methods of investigation. 



In the first place, there is noted an abnormal distention of the 

 meningeal vessels, and the accumulation around them, and in the 

 meshes of the pia mater, of inflammation corpuscles, together with a 

 nucleolated exudation. This exudation is strongly refractive of light, 

 is colourless, and under high magnifying powers is seen to consist of 

 pxmctiform nuclear substance (granular disintegration). Striking 

 changes are observed in the grey matter of the convolutions, and in 

 various parts of the nervous centres. One of the coarser changes 

 observed was the presence of numerous holes, or spaces, which, when 

 magnified eighty or ninety diameters, were seen to be filled with a 

 material which also refracted light. This mass, under the high 

 powers of the microscope, consisted of a granular or nuclear substance, 

 in which were single hyaloid and colourless corpuscles, of the size of 

 a distended nucleus of a blood-corpuscle. Inflammatory corpuscles 

 were to be seen in both these masses. In the larger spaces, nerve- 

 cells also were found. Dr. Benedikt further describes what he calls a 

 peculiar condition of the hardened brain, especially in the finer sections. 

 The slightest pressure forced out upon the surface shining masses, 

 * ' Wiener Mediz. Presse,' June, 1874. 



