522 



BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOT PROVED 



from the brain and spinal cord of rabid animals, and states in his article on 

 hydrophobia in " Les Bacteries" (second edition, page 791) that pure cultures 

 of the second and third generations induced rabies in susceptible animals ; but 

 his own later researches do not appear to have established the etiological re- 

 lation of this micrococcus. 



Gibier (1884) has reported the presence of spherical refractive granules, 

 resembling micrococci, in the brain of rabid animals, which he demonstrated 

 by rubbing up a little of the cerebral substance with distilled water. As 

 these supposed micrococci did not stain with the usual aniline colors and 

 were not cultivated, it appears very doubtful whether the refractive granules 

 seen were really microorganisms. 



Fol (1885) claims to have demonstrated the presence of minute cocci, 0.2 u 

 in diameter, in sections of spinal cord from rabid animals, by Weigert's 

 method of staining. The cords were hardened in a solution of bichromate 

 of potash and sulphate of copper, colored with a solution of hsematoxylon, 

 and decolorized in a solution of ferrocyanide of potash and borax. 



The writer (1887) has made similar preparations, carefully following the 

 method as described by Fol, but was not able to demonstrate the presence of 

 microorganisms in the numerous sections made. Nor have the observations 

 of Fol been confirmed by the researches of other bacteriologists who have 

 given their attention to the subject since the publication of his paper. 



With reference to the results of Pasteur's protective inoculations, we 

 may say that it is now pretty generally admitted that the published statistics 

 demonstrate the prophylactic value of the method as practised at the Pasteur 

 Institute in Paris. 



In a paper by Perdrix published in the Annales de Tlnstitut Pasteur, 

 vol. iv., 1890, the following statistics are given for the years 1886-89: 



This table includes only those deaths which occurred at least fifteen days 

 after the treatment was terminated. When all deaths are included the fig- 

 ures are as follows : 



In the statistics of the Pasteur Institute the cases have from the com- 

 mencement been classified as follows : 



A. Persons bitten by animals proved to be rabid by experimental inocu- 

 lations in other animals. 



B. Persons bitten by animals examined by veterinary surgeons and pro- 

 nounced by them to be rabid. 



C. Persons bitten by animals suspected of being rabid. 



The following table gives the results in accordance with this classification : 



