398 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



a few more cases might occur, the period of incubation after 

 bites being so extremely irregular. 



Bouley's report was sent to the Minister of Public Instruc- 

 tion at the beginning of August. ' We submit to you to- 

 day," he wrote, " this report on the first series of experiments 

 that we have just witnessed, in order that M. Pasteur 

 may refer to it in the paper which he proposes to read 

 at the Copenhagen International Scientific Congress on 

 these magnificent results, which devolve so much credit on 

 French Science and which give it a fresh claim to the world's 

 gratitude." 



The Commission wished that a large kennel yard might be 

 built, in order that the duration of immunity in protected dogs 

 might be timed, and that other great problem solved, viz., 

 whether it would be possible, through the inoculation of 

 attenuated virus, to defy the virus from bites. 



By the Minister's request, the Commission investigated the 

 Meudon woods in search of a favourable site ; an excellent 

 place was found in the lower part of the Park, away from 

 dwelling houses, easy to enclose and presumably in no one's 

 way. But, when the inhabitants of Meudon heard of this 

 project, they protested vehemently, evidently terrified at the 

 thought of rabid dogs, however securely bound, in their peace- 

 ful neighbourhood. 



Another piece of ground was then suggested to Pasteur, near 

 St. Cloud, in the Park of Villeneuve 1'Etang. Originally a 

 State domain, this property had been put up for sale, but had 

 found no buyer, not being suitable for parcelling out in small 

 lots ; the Bill was withdrawn which allowed of its sale and the 

 greater part of the domain was devoted by the Ministry to 

 Pasteur's and his assistants' experiments on the prophylaxis 

 of contagious diseases. 



Pasteur, his mind full of ideas, started for the International 

 Medical Congress, which was now to take place at Copenhagen. 

 Sixteen hundred members arranged to attend, and nearly all 

 of them found on arriving that they were to be entertained in 

 the houses of private individuals. The Danes carry hospitality 

 to the most generous excess ; several of them had been learn- 

 ing French for the last three years, the better to entertain 

 the French delegates. Pasteur's son, then secretary of the 

 French Legation at Copenhagen, had often spoken to his 

 father with appreciative admiration of those Northerners, who 



