On Rabies. 



11 



but partial narcosis, and after a few hours no disturbance what- 

 ever. 



A rabbit infected in the usual manner, 30/10/86, one hour after- 

 wards was injected with 1 grm. chloral hydrate ; this quantity was 

 repeated daily til], on the 7th day, the animal was found to be para- 

 lysed, but most unusually, the fore limbs were affected more strongly 

 than the hind ; the usual rise of temperature was absent or escaped 

 observation. ; it was found dead on the following morning, the 9 th day. 

 A control rabbit similarly inoculated, after an incubation period of 

 between eight or nine days, died on the 12th day ; another with an 

 incubation period of eight days died on the 11th. 



This result, though not favourable to the protective action of chloral 

 hydrate, yet seemed to point to a modifying action on the virus in 

 some respects. I had also observed the results of previous experi- 

 ments which seemed to lead to the same conclusion. On the 31st 

 July, 1886, a strong gray rabbit that had been partially narcotised by 

 the subcutaneous injection of about 3 grms. chloral hydrate, was 

 inoculated intracranially with infective medulla; this animal re- 

 mained quite unaffected till the 28th October, when it was found to 

 be partially paralysed with a falling temperature ; it died on the 30th 

 October ; the post-mortem appearances were well marked and unmis- 

 takable. 



Again, in an experiment previously referred to, a large rabbit was 

 narcotised by the injection of 3 grms. of the same salt, and then 

 inoculated intracranially from the medulla o£ a rabid street dog. On 

 the 5th day partial paraplegia was apparent, but no rise in tempera- 

 ture, which, however, may have occurred previously and fallen again ; 

 the animal continued to feed well, and towards the 10th day appeared 

 to be recovering, which it gradually did, and remained well till the 

 22nd day, when it was found dead— any previous recurrence of 

 symptoms not being observed. The post-mortem appearances were 

 remarkably distinct and diagnostic ; there could be no doubt that it 

 died of paralytic rabies. 



As these were the only anomalous cases with intracranial inocula- 

 tions of intensified rabbit virus, as regards the incubation period, that 

 I had had up to this time out of upwards of sixty cases, it appeared 

 to me that the results described in two instances could not be due to 

 mere chance, and must be owing to the action of the drug previously 

 administered. I therefore continued experiments with it. 



To another rabbit inoculated intracranially with active virus, 

 1 gramme of chloral hydrate in solution was injected daily for seven 

 days ; general paralysis was then observed, but again the rise of tem- 

 perature, usually one of the first symptoms, was not noticed, being 

 probably inhibited by the action of the drug; the animal died on the 

 following, the 8th day. 



