476 RABIES 



itis, of which the exact exciting cause is as yet unknown. The 

 changes are thus grouped: (i) appearance of nuclear chro- 

 matin, peculiar cell division (neuroglia cells and vascular 

 endothelium), nuclear movements also in nerve cells, diffuse 

 vascular distension and leucocyte infiltration, revealing a con- 

 dition of irritation ; (2) swelling, vacuolation, changes of 

 form, granular appearance of nerve cells and neuroglia ; and 

 (3) more advanced changes in the nerve elements. The 

 changes in the first group may be seen as early as five days 

 after inoculation. 



In a more recent article by Germano and Capobianco' 

 attention is called to the fact that the destruction of some of 

 the nerve cells in rabid animals is not accepted by every bod}', 

 but that in their researches they have been able to confirm the 

 statements made by Golgi, that instances of the complete dis- 

 appearance of nerve cells have been observed, while other cells 

 show fatty degeneration, and partial destruction of the irentirety 

 represent intermediate stages between the normal cell and its 

 total disappearance. The alteration of the nucleus may pre- 

 cede or follow that of the cell body. 



The nerve fibers, either in the white or gray matter, 

 undergo a certain amount of change. In a longitudinal sec- 

 tion of the myel, especially through the ventro-lateral columns, 

 there are noted marked changes in the axis cylinders. In 

 some cases they appear uniformly swollen for their whole 

 length, while in others there are varicose enlargements. In 

 the swollen portions there were frequently observed small 

 vacuoles which interrupted the continuity of the axis cylinder. 



During the year 1900, the discovery of changes distinctive 

 of rabies was announced by Van Gehucten and Nelis. These 

 changes are found in the peripheral ganglia of the cerebro 

 spinal and sympathetic systems and are especially marked in 

 the plexiform ganglion of the pneuraogastric nerve and the 

 gasserian ganglion. Normally these ganglia are composed of 

 a supporting tissue holding in its meshes the nerve cells, each 

 one of which is enclosed in a capsule, made up of a single 

 layer of endothelial cells. The action of the rabic virus seems 



