GERMS. 115 



that rabies among dogs and hydrophobia among hu- 

 man beings are very prevalent and ever present dis- 

 eases, which constantly demand immediate and careful 

 attention. But it is clear from the preceding remarks, 

 that this view is altogether erroneous. 



"About 1880 M. Pasteur commenced his researches 

 on hydrophobia, and in the course of a few years he 

 announced that he had devised a system of inoculation 

 by means of which the disease could be prevented in 

 persons bitten by rabid animals, provided they applied 

 for treatment before hydrophobia set in. 



"The great reputation of M. Pasteur as an eminent 

 chemist, and a distinguished man of science caused his 

 views to be widely accepted throughout the civilized 

 world, and great numbers of frightened, credulous peo- 

 ple flocked to him for treatment. The notoriety of his 

 proceedings, and the pernicious prominence which was 

 given to an exceedingly rare disease, produced a verita- 

 ble panic in the public mind, in so much that many 

 persons, without the slightest reason, fancied them- 

 selves in danger of hydrophobia, and groundless scares, 

 resulting in foolish muzzling orders, have been quite 

 common occurences ever since. 



"M. Pasteur varied his treatment several times, using 

 subcutaneous injections of different strengths, the 

 strongest being employed in what he called the inten- 

 sive method. So many deaths, however, occurred from 

 the intensive treatment that it was quickly given up. 



"Evidently M. Pasteur was not at all sure about his 

 system. At first he declared positively that his method 

 would protect all patients at any time before hydro- 



