RABIES 167 



convulsions and paralysis are speedily followed by 

 death. 



In man the period of incubation is from two weeks 

 to six months or more, the average period being forty 

 days. The initial symptoms in man are pain near 

 the site of infection, with great nervous irritability, 

 followed by the characteristic spasms of the throat 

 muscles, delirium, general convulsions, paralysis, 

 and death, the duration of the disease being usu- 

 ally from four to eight days. 



Prophylaxis. — Prior to 1885 the only treatment 

 given to persons who had been bitten by rabid animals 

 was the cauterization and ordinary surgical care of 

 the wounds; but Pasteur at this time made public 

 the results of his great work in discovering a protec- 

 tive inoculation serum against hydrophobia. His 

 experiments were a brilliant success, and have re- 

 sulted in the establishment of Pasteur Institutes for 

 the treatment of hydrophobia in all parts of the 

 world. 



The success of the treatment or immunization de- 

 pends largely upon the time which elapses between 

 the bite and the beginning of the treatment. It is 

 now customary to send persons who have been bitten 

 by rabid animals with all possible speed to the 

 nearest Pasteur Institute for treatment. 



