December 11, 1882. — The study of rabies, of all diseases, seems to be the one which bristles with most difficulties. Clinical observation is powerless, and it is ever necessary to appeal to experimentation. But until }’esterday the significance of the simplest experiment was wrapped up in undecipherable uncertainties.

The saliva was the only part where the presence of the virus of rabies had been detected with certainty.But the saliva, inoculated by a bite or by direct injection into the areolar tissue, does not constantly give rise to rabies. Furthermore, when the malady does show itself, it is only after a prolonged incubation, the duration of which is both varying and unsettled.

It follows, therefore, that anyone wishing to draw conclusions from a set of experiments by inoculation, with regard to which no positive results have been come to, is always in fear of not having waited long enough for the results of his inoculation or else of having to deal with cases of absolute failure. Add to this the difficulty of procuring the virus at will, the repulsion and danger of handling mad dogs, and it will be easily understood that the study of hydrophobia is full of mishaps.

The situation is no longer the same.

May 30,1881. — The Academy may remember that we began the study of hydrophobia in the month of December last, assisted by Messrs. Chaniberland and Boux, whom M. Thuillier kindly joined.

By comparing the external symptoms of that malady with certain microscopical observations made on the brains of persons or animals who had died of hydrophobia, and by considering that it has not as yet been possible to communicate the affection by inoculation of the blood of rabid individuals, several authors were led to the belief that the central nervous system, and in particular the medulla oblongata, which joins the spinal cord to the brain and cerebellum, are specially interested and active in the development of the disease. This opinion was upheld with great distinction, two years ago, by Dr. Duboue. Nevertheless, the Lyons experiments leave room for much uncertainty as to the true seat of elaboration of the rabid virus.

‘ The rabid virus,’ says the learned experimenter, ‘ exists in the saliva, as all know. But where does it come from ? Where is it elaborated ? . . .

‘ Hitherto I have only been able to detect the presence of the virus in the mad dog, in the lingual glands and in the bucco-pharyngeal mucous membrane.

‘ More than ten times, and always with the same want of success, have I inoculated the substance extracted by compression from the brain, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata of mad dogs.’ ‘

January 24, 1881. — On a New Malady produced by the Saliva of a Child who died of Rabies. Note by M. L. Pasteur, with the Collaboration of Messrs. Chamberland and Roux.

This note deals with the experiments undertaken with the saliva of the child who died in Mr. Lannelongue’s ward. This saliva, injected into dogs and rabbits, gave rise in them to a new and fatal disease, not to rabies. We shall, accordingly, not translate the article, although it is of great interest. M. Pasteur here expresses the idea that the new disease may possibly be the form assumed in animals by human rabies. A specific microbe had been isolated and cultivated. He forsees the possibility of vaccinating dogs against hydrophobia, and thus indirectly preserving man himself.