56 Manual of Veterinary Microbiology. 



self in an absolute manner to their penetration ; some 

 of them are probably able to introduce themselves 

 into its substance through the pilo-sebaceous glands, 

 and thus give rise to diseases. The anatomical pus- 

 tules which develop upon the hand or arm of anato- 

 mists, surgeons, and accoucheurs, seem to be pro- 

 duced in this way ; it is the same with acne. 



Repeated frictions of the skin at the time of con- 

 tact with virulent matters will considerably further 

 penetration. Garre induced the formation of furun- 

 culous pustules on his own arm by rubbing it with a 

 culture of staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. 



The incorporation of the virus with a fatty body, 

 by rendering the contact more complete, increases 

 the facility and certainty of absorption by the intact 

 skin. Charbon and glanders have been communi- 

 cated in this way. 



In short, if absorption by the healthy skin is pos- 

 sible, it seems to take place only within narrow limits. 

 It acquires, on the other hand, great importance 

 when a traumatism has opened the way to microbes, 

 most of these being capable of penetrating through 

 even the slightest solutions of continuity in the ex- 

 ternal integument. 



Digestive mucous membrane. — The different structure 

 of this membrane in the various parts of the digest- 

 ive canal manifestly implies variation in its absorp- 

 tive faculty toward pathogenic microbes. The lining 

 membrane of the anterior passages is little adapted 

 to their penetration, but this much more readily oc- 

 curs if one or several accidental solutions of con- 

 tinuity exist in these passages. Experiment has 

 shown that the addition to fodders contaminated 



