274 SPECIFIC MICRO-ORGANISMS 



are not produced and the bacillus gradually loses its virulence. 

 When it will no longer kill guinea-pigs but will still kill mice the 

 strain is again grown at 37C. and injected into cattle and sheep 

 as the first vaccine. Twelve days later a second vaccine is in- 

 jected, which is a somewhat more virulent culture, still capable 

 of killing guinea-pigs but not powerful enough to cause fatal in- 

 fection of rabbits. As a result of these two treatments, nearly 

 all animals become immune to the natural disease or to inocula- 

 tion with fully virulent cultures. Sobernheim 1 and Sclavo 2 have 

 induced a high degree of immunity in sheep and in asses by re- 

 peated injections of the bacilli, and have found the serum of such 

 hyper-immune animals to be protective and curative upon in- 

 jection into other animals. The injection of this serum along 

 with a dose of living culture of about the strength of Pasteur's 

 second vaccine has been employed in immunizing cattle and 

 sheep. All the necessary treatment is thus given at one time. 

 The serum has also been successfully employed in conjunction 

 with the appropriate medical and surgical measures in the treat- 

 ment of malignant pustule in man. 3 



Sobernheim: Zeitsch. f. Hyg., 1897, XXV, pp. 301-356; Centralbl. f. Bakt., 

 1899, XXV, p. 840. 



2 Sclavo: Centralbl. f. Bakt., 1899, XXVI, p. 425. 



3 For a discussion of treatment of human anthrax consult Boidin, Vignaud and 

 Fortineau, Presse Medicale, Aug. 14, 1912; also Becker, Munch, med. Wochenschr., 

 Jan. 23, 1912. 



