The pathogenesis of rabies was studied by inoculating mice in the rear footpad with virus from the salivary gland of a rabid bobcat; this virus was selected because it caused death one to three months after inoculation. This is similar to the incubation periods seen in man. Amputation of the inoculated feet within 18 days after inoculation was a life-saving procedure, indicating that the virus stays at or near the site of introduction for most of the long incubation period. Equine antiserum to rabies administered 24 hr after inoculation of virus failed to reduce mortality but resulted in singularly prolonged incubation periods. A significant reduction in mortality was noted in only two groups, one given equine antiserum to rabies and daily doses of duck-embryo vaccine (23% vs. 51% in the controls), and the other given one dose of a highly potent tissue-culture vaccine (3% vs. 51 %).