312 ANTHRAX 



associated with the presence of the bacilli in large numbers, 

 occurred as a complication. 



The Toxins of the Bacillus Anthracis. Various theories 

 were formerly held as to the mode in which the anthrax bacillus 

 produces its effects. One of the earliest was the mechanical, 

 according to which it was supposed that the serious results were 

 produced by extensive blocking of the capillaries in the various 

 organs by the bacilli. According to another, it was supposed 

 that the bacilli used up the oxygen of the blood, thus leading to 

 starvation of the tissues. The discovery of definite toxins which 

 accounted for the pathogenic effects of certain bacteria led to 

 such bodies being sought for in connection with the anthrax 

 bacillus. Among other workers, Sidney Martin investigated this 

 subject. This observer used alkali-albumin on which to grow 

 the bacillus, this medium approaching most closely to the 

 environment of the latter when growing in the animal body. 

 From cultures in this medium, concentrated by evaporation 

 either at 100 C. or in vacuo at 35 to 45 C., there were 

 isolated proto-albumose, deutero-albumose, and traces of peptone. 

 The albumoses differed from those which occur in ordinary 

 digestion, in being strongly alkaline in their reaction. This 

 alkalinity, Martin held, was due to traces of an alkaloidal body 

 of which the albumoses were the precursors, and which were 

 formed when the process of digestion of the alkali-albumin by 

 the bacillus was allowed to go on further. By the albumoses 

 and the alkaloid, pathogenic effects were produced in animals, 

 closely similar to those produced by the bacilli themselves. 

 Martin, to account for the symptoms of the disease, considered 

 that the fever was mostly due to the albumoses, while the 

 oedema and congestion were due to the alkaloid which acted as a 

 local irritant. He showed that prolonged boiling destroyed the 

 activity of the albumoses, but not that of the alkaloid. Further, 

 from the body fluids of animals dead of anthrax he isolated 

 poisonous bodies similar to those produced by the bacilli growing 

 in this artificial medium. Hankin and Wesbrook arrived at the 

 conclusion that the bacillus anthracis produces a ferment which, 

 diffusing out into the culture fluid, elaborates albumoses from 

 the proteids present in it. The bacilli also produce albumoses 

 directly without the intervention of a ferment. Marmier, after 

 cultivating the b. anthracis in peptone solution containing 

 certain salts, removed all the albumoses from the resultant 

 liquid, and from them, either by dialysis or extraction with 

 glycerin, isolated a body which gave no reactions of albuminoid 

 matter, peptone, propeptone, or alkaloid. This he considered the 



