CHAPTER XX 



A Bacteriological Institute in Odessa — Unsatisfactory conditions — 

 Experiments on erysipelas and on relapsing fever. 



The results of Pasteur's antirabic inoculations were 

 published in 1885. The Municipality of Odessa, 

 desirous of founding a bacteriological station in that 

 town, sent Dr. Gamaleia to Paris to study the new 

 method. Metchnikoff was appointed Scientific Direc- 

 tor of the new institution, and Drs. Gamaleia and 

 Bardach, former pupils of his, were entrusted with the 

 preparation of vaccines and preventive inoculations. 

 The Institute, opened in 1886, was founded at the 

 expense of the Municipality of Odessa and of the 

 Zemstvo of the Kherson Province. 



Metchnikoff himself describes as follows the short 

 time he spent in that Institute : 



. . . Having given up my State work, I placed myself 

 at the service of the city and the Zemstvo. 



Absorbed as I was by the scientific part of the work, I 

 confided to my yomig colleagues the practical part, i.e. the 

 vaccinations and the perfection of vaccines. 



It was to be supposed that all would go very well. 



Work in the new Institute began with ardour. But, very 

 soon, a strong opposition manifested itself against it. 



The medical administration began to make incursions into 

 the Institute, with a view to finding some infractions of the 

 regulations. 



Medical society was hostile to every work which issued 



127 



