Is M. Pasteur really about to try experiments in cholera
on human beings? It looks very like it. He has told the corre- spondent of the Times that he has tried "choleraic vaccine " on animals, and has found that it completely protects them against true choleraic virus when introduced into the in- testines. The virus caused "a real centre of intestinal disorder," but did not cause death. The experiments, however, are un- satisfactory, inasmuch as the effect on men and animals may not be the same ; and, although the vaccine has been tried on men, who have consequently escaped the disease, even M. Pasteur shrinks from introducing into them the true choleraic virus. Still, science cannot be content without that in- troduction ; and, after failing to induce a Russian Prince to try the experiment, M. Pasteur has asked Prince Damrong, of Siam, a great admirer, to " vaccinate a portion of the inhabi- tants in some of the villages, and so submit the whole question to a fair scientific inquiry," so as "to ascertain whether choleraic vaccine introduced under the skin is a protec- tion against intestinal cholera." Clearly, the Siamese villagers are to be tested in some more perfect way than Frenchmen would bear, and the additional way is obviously the introduc- tion of the intestinal virus. At least, if it is not, M. Pasteur has done himself a great injustice, or suffered one from M. de Blowitz. We rather fancy that Prince Damrong will shrink from the experiment on villagers, as he might rouse a rebel- lion ; but he may try it upon criminals, and, in this case, if the experiment fails, M. Pasteur may have a good many deaths upon his conscience. Intellectual curiosity seems, however, to suppress that organ.
Previous page
