HYDROPHOBIA 217 



possible, by a steam-disinfector. Books and manuscripts 

 which might be injured by exposure to steam are to be 

 treated with an alcoholic solution of mercuric chloride. All 

 property which is of little value is to be burnt, while the 

 house itself must be well fumigated with burning sulphur, 

 1 pound being used for every 1,000 cubic feet of air space ; 

 the walls are to be stripped and the ceilings limewashed. 



HYDROPHOBIA. 



The specific organism is not yet discovered — Incubation period — Ex- 

 amination of suspected animals — Post-mortem appearances — 

 Pasteur's method for the production of immunity — Treatment must 

 be instituted as early as possible after the infection has been 

 received — Report of the English Commission on Pasteur's work — 

 Statistics of the Pasteur Institute. 



This disease, which is commonly termed rabies in animals, 

 is capable of affecting man, dogs, wolves, cats, and rabbits. 

 It is, in all probability, due to a specific organism, but no 

 organism has yet been proved to exist, by the usual methods 

 of staining or culture. 



In man the incubation period varies very greatly, namely, 

 from a few days to several months, while in the case of 

 inoculated animals it is usually about nine or ten days. 



Examination of a Suspected Animal. — On examining an 

 animal dead of rabies, the following appearances will 

 generally be seen: The brain and spinal cord are found 

 to be congested, and contain an excessive number of 

 leucocytes. The cells of the salivary glands are in a 

 degenerating condition, the alveoli themselves being filled 

 with degenerate cells. 



The appearances on post-mortem examination are not 

 absolutely decisive, and so it is preferable to use Pasteur's 

 method of inoculation of a portion of the spinal cord into 

 the dura mater of a rabbit or a dog, which will exhibit 



