146 SCIENCE REMAKING THE WORLD 



transmitted the disease by use of nerve tissue, but the 

 diseases thus produced were violent and death- 

 producing. This time, however, the desiccated nerve 

 tissue produced a mild attack from which the rabbit 

 recovered. Following this lead, a series of less and less 

 dry nerve tissues were used to produce a cumulative 

 series of mild attacks, after which the bite of a rabid 

 animal failed to produce hydrophobia. 



At this juncture one of the most striking events of 

 all science occurred. Frau Meister, of Alsace, had a 

 boy, Joseph, who two days before had been bitten by a 

 rabid dog. Such an attack as that shown by the four- 

 teen bites upon the unfortunate boy had been previously 

 regarded as meaning almost certain death. The mother 

 had heard of Pasteur, and at once started to Paris with 

 her boy. The treatment had not been given to any 

 human being; it was not known whether results would 

 be similar to those obtained in lower animals; it was not 

 known what series or gradation of treatments would be 

 necessary for human beings; it had been proved that 

 the treatment could be applied to animals after a rabid 

 bite, and that protection could be secured. Frau 

 Meister was obdurately insistent. Pasteur's advisers 

 intimated that the boy's death would be upon Pasteur if 

 he refused to treat him and the mother absolved him 

 from responsibility if the treatment were given. Against 

 advice from his friends, Pasteur began the experiment 

 upon the boy, shortening the periods between treat- 

 ments in efforts to secure cumulative protective results. 

 The ignorant but beautiful confidence of the mother 

 and boy permitted them to sleep and rest between^ 



