SMALLPOX. 325 



in exactly seven days ; the virus thus remained a virus 

 fixe. 



The immunity to rabies appears to persist for a long time 

 in dogs for two years. 



Results of Pasteur's Procedure. The great utility of 

 the method of vaccination against rabies is no longer seri- 

 ously doubted by any one. From 1886 to January I, 



1894, 14,430 persons in all were treated in the Pasteur In- 

 stitute, of whom 72 died. In the year 1891, 394 persons 

 were treated, the diagnosis of rabies in the biting animals 

 being established with all possible certainty ; and not a 

 single patient developed the disease. In 1892, 128 persons 

 were treated, with I death. In 1893, 132 bitten persons 

 were treated, of whom none died. In the year 1894, 1387 

 persons were vaccinated, of whom 7 died, and in the year 



1895, 1520 were vaccinated, with 2 deaths. * These statistics 

 require no comment : they speak for themselves. 



SMALLPOX (VARIOLA). 



Smallpox, like syphilis and rabies, is one of the diseases 

 whose exciting agents are yet unknown. 



The virus of smallpox resides in the contents of the 

 variolous pustules, in the desiccating scales of the skin, in 

 the sputum, and in the nasal secretion of those suffering 

 from the disease. It is transported with the linen and the 

 clothing of the sick. Also the air in the neighborhood of 

 the sick must, from clinical experience, be considered 

 a source of infection. Under suitable conditions the con- 

 tagium may retain its vitality for an exceedingly long time, 

 apparently for years. 



The portal of infection for the contagium of smallpox 

 has not yet been definitely determined. According to the 

 common opinion, the disease is generally acquired through 

 direct or indirect contact with the sick, and the skin would 

 thus seem to constitute the portal of infection. In other 

 cases the disease may be attributed to simple inhalation in 

 the neighborhood of smallpox-hospitals, etc. Finally, 

 articles of food (such as milk) and insects are thought to 

 convey the infection, which, under these conditions, would 



*The figures for 1896 were 1388, with 4 deaths; for 1897, 1521 cases, 

 with 6 deaths. A. A. E. 



