ABSTRACT
In England since civil registration of deaths began in 1837, rabies has seldom caused more than 30 human deaths in any single year. Rabies is an ancient disease, mentioned by Aristotle. It was fully described by Mead in 1767. Rabies occurs chiefly in dogs, sometimes in cats and pigs, also in non-domestic animals, as wolves or deer. Virulent rabic material was introduced under the experimental dog's dura mater and the dog proved refractory to the disease. In some countries, as in some American States in which rabies is common, prophylactic vaccination of dogs has been made compulsory. It may be hoped, however, that this measure will eventually be unnecessary, and that Pasteurian vaccination will then be reserved for persons bitten by suspected dogs. The action taken demonstrated that at the present time rabies only occurs when acquired from another rabic animal, and that it can be completely controlled by administrative measures.
