396 RABIES 
ce]] and fill out the dilated pericellular lymphatic spaces by a multiplication of small 
nuclei. 
“The lesion of medullary substance is less pronounced, it consists chiefly of an edema 
of the medullary sheath of the nerve fibers. 
“Tn certain plasma cells, in the interior of and around vessels, sometimes in leucocytes 
in lymphatic spaces, in the altered parts of certain nerve cells, and in the dilated sheath 
of nerve fibers may be seen round or ameboid granules about 1y, in diameter, pigmented 
or stainable by aniline dyes, and which in part seem to possess the power of movement.” 
Golgi draws attention to the following morbid changes in rabies: 
(a) Changes in the structure of the nucleus, all the various phases of karyokinesis 
may be simulated, yet no true nuclear division may take place. (b) Changes in the 
body of the cells, such as vacuole formation, bladder-like transformation of the cells. 
Changes may also be recognized by methods directed to the study of the outer form of 
the cell. Here varicose appearances of the cell processes may be seen. Granular 
fatty changes may also be present. An important change lies in the displacement of the 
nucleus. The periphery of the cell becomes homogeneous. Granular fatty changes 
are also seen in the neuroglia cells. (c) Changes in the intervertebral ganglia. The 
author would look upon these anatomico-pathological changes found by him as charac- 
teristic, while here not only the sum total of the changes, but also their order of occur 
rence and mutual interdependence are taken into consideration. 
The morbid process is parenchymatous encephalo-myelitis, of which the exact excit- 
ing cause is as yet unknown. The changes are thus grouped: (1) appearance of 
nuclear chromatin, peculiar cell division (neuroglia cells and vascular endothelium), 
nuclear movements also in nerve cells, diffuse vascular distension and leucocyte infiltra- 
tion, revealing a condition 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 Germano and Capocianco state that in 
their researches they have been able to confirm the statements made 
by Golgi, that instances of the complete disappearance of nerve cells 
have been observed, while other cells show fatty degeneration, and 
partial destruction of their entirety representing intermediate stages 
between the normal cell and its total disappearance. The alteration 
of the nucleus may precede 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 section 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 ob- 
served small vacuoles which interrupted the continuity of the axis 
cylinder. 
