DISEA SES OF THE NER VO US S TS TEM. 1 61 



tion of instances in which the dreaded disease supervened from a bite 

 would be greatly reduced." 



Many pages have already been devoted to this subject and much of equal 

 and even of still greater interest is to follow. The task has proved hercu- 

 lean, but the writer has felt his duty imperatively demanded that an 

 exhaustive description of the symptoms and phenomena of rabies be pic- 

 tured by him to the reader. Although he has never been able to appreciate 

 why people are possessed by that insane terror of a disease, so rare that 

 death by the hand of the executioner might with equal good sense be an- 

 ticipated, he has felt that superstition, and an ignorance of the subject 

 were conditions favorable to the propagation of the common terror, and 

 only by enlightenment born of a perfect understanding of the disease and 

 its actual not imaginary dangers, can the public mind be disabused, and 

 the groundless terror dispelled. 



In pursuance of the author's intention to familiarize the reader with all 

 the more important facts developed by scientific research, he submits the 

 following paraphrase of the address of M. Pasteur at the International 

 meeting at Copenhagen, August, 1884. — 



" Congresses seem to point out the chief directions of progress, whilst 

 they are also meetings for examination of the most important problems 

 in medicine. 



When three years ago, this Congress met in London the microbe theory 

 was still in attack but now it is admitted, and our opponents should ac- 

 knowledge it. That spontaneous generation was a chemical hypothesis has 

 also been proved; on the other hand microscopic life lias a relation to 

 organic decomposition and fermentation, hence theories as to spontaneous 

 origin of disease must cease to exist. 



From the London Congress another advance must also be dated viz., 

 the possibility of attenuating viruses, varying their infectious nature and 

 preserving them. The application to veterinary medicine followed, and 

 animals are protected against such diseases as fowl cholera and splenic 

 fever. The methods applied to animals might be adopted in regard to man 

 only we should have to proceed with caution. The inquiries hitherto con- 

 ducted are things of yesterday ; they have been fruitful in results and we 

 have a right to expect further advances. I was induced to study rabies, a 

 disease surrounded with obscurity, in order to penetrate further into the 

 arcana of knowledge. For four years in my laboratoiy, we have been con- 

 ducting experiments under difficulties, though the French government 

 has in its zeal for scientific interests endeavored to smooth the way. I 

 shall to day give the results of our experiences. 



Every disease and especially rabies makes us think of a cure but in 

 searching for a remedy we often indulge in fruitless labor. By studying 



