CHAPTER II. 



HYDROPHOBIA, OR RABIES. 



No micro-organism of hydrophobia has as yet been 

 discovered, yet the peculiarities of the disease are such 

 as to leave no doubt in the mind of a bacteriologist that 

 one must exist. To find it is now the desideratum. 



Although many men have labored upon hydrophobia, 

 no name is so well known or so justly honored as that 

 of the great pioneer in bacteriology, Pasteur. The profes- 

 sion and laity are alike familiar with his name and work, 

 and although at times the newspapers of our country 

 and certain members of the profession have opposed the 

 methods of treatment which he has suggested as the re- 

 sult of his experimentation, we cannot but feel that this 

 skepticism and opposition are due either to ignorance 

 of the principles upon which Pasteur reasoned or to a 

 culpable conservatism. The most vehement opponent 

 that Pasteur has in America seems to disbelieve the 

 existence of rabies. It is impossible to argue with him. 



Hydrophobia, or rabies, is a specific toxemia to which 

 dogs, wolves, skunks, and cats are highly susceptible, 

 and which can, through their saliva, be communicated 

 to men, horses, cows, and other animals. The means 

 of communication is almost invariably a bite, hence the 

 inference that the specific organism is present in the 

 saliva. 



The animals that are infected manifest no symptoms 

 during a varying incubation-period in which the wound 

 generally heals kindly. This period may last for as long 

 a time as twelve months, but in rare cases may be only 

 some days. An average duration of the period of incu- 

 bation might be stated as about six weeks. 



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