100 LABORATORY BACTERIOLOGY 



EXERCISE XLI 



BACTERIUM ANTHRACIS 



146. Anthrax is a disease affecting cattle and man. Bac- 

 terium anthracis is interesting because of its spores, which are 

 very resistant to disinfectants. Because of its striking mor- 

 phology it can be differentiated microscopically in fresh tissues. 

 In tissues some hours after death there is a putrefactive 

 organism that resembles it morphologically. Bad. anthracis 

 is readily diagnosed in cultures. 



147. Work for this exercise. Examine and describe each 

 of the cultures of this organism made during the last exercise. 



Examine microscopically the bouillon and agar cultures in 

 both hanging-drop and stained cover-glass preparations. 



Measure a few of the bacteria in a stained preparation and 

 make a drawing of them magnified 1000 diameters. 



Make a series of 2 agar plates from the bouillon culture. 



Examine sections of animal tissue containing anthrax bac- 

 teria. Make and examine a few cover-glass preparations from 

 the liver of an animal (guinea pig or rabbit) which has just 

 died of anthrax. (This will be furnished by the instructor.) 



In notes state whether or not a microscopic examination of 

 tissues is sufficient to make a diagnosis of anthrax. 



