New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon.

  • Gordon, Charles Alexander, 1821-1899.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    78 inoculation for anthrax, and Ferran's for diolera. Note also the essential difference elsewliere described as existing between the method of Pasteur and tliat of Jenner]. A lady, whose son was recently bitten by a dog proved to be mad wrote to tell M. Pasteur that his discoveries were worthless—an assertion she supports by the fact that both she and her son were bitten by rabid dogs, washed and cauterised their wounds, and have ex- perienced no bad result from the accident. Eveiiing Standard, llth- 12th November, 1885.) She challenges M. Pasteur's treatment with its necessarily complicated arrangements against her own more simple and effectual plan. {Zoophilist, Dec. 1885, p. 130). But it is reported that :—A little girl who had been bitten by a mad dog, and who was afterwards subjected to M. Pasteur's inoculation died of hydrophobia. This child was not taken to M. Pasteur's labora- tory until thirty-six days after she had been bitten. {Echo, Dec. 8, 1885.) The following details are given regarding that fatal case :—Louise Pelletier, ten years old ; bitten on October 3rd in two places, the wounds cauterised with carbolic acid within three hours of their infliction. From that date the child continued in perfect health for thirty-six days, at the end of which time M. Pasteur began his inoculations with rabid virus, and continued them during ten consecutive days. Fifteen days after the termination of this treatment the child was attacked with hydro- phobia, and died three days afterwards, namely, on December 4. While she was suffering from the disease the inoculations were repeated, but no other treatment was applied. [And yet, the defuiite statement occurs that inoculation can no more be a remedy against hydrophobia when it has declared itself, than vaccination can be against small pox, when once a patient is down with it. With what object then, was it adopted in this particular case to the exclusion of all other means 1 Information on this point is absent.] Who then shall say whether she died of the dog's bite or of repeated inoculations with rabid matter—artificially performed. (See Spectator, Dec. 26, 1885). On the 17th December, 1885, it was alleged that whereas there have been two deaths from hydrophobia after inoculation, sufficient time has not elapsed to enable any appreciative result to be given. M. Pasteur avows that at least 12 months must elapse before he himself can