1888.] Presents. 153 



VII. The shortest period observed intervening between the inocu- 

 lation of the foetus in utero and parturition, after which the mother 

 was found to be protected against the inoculation of virulent anthrax 

 blood, was thirty-six hours. 



VIII. For the protection of the surviving foetuses, or those other 

 than the one primarily inoculated with anthrax in utero, a longer 

 exposure is required than the minimum thirty -six hours observed to 

 protect the mother. Or the surviving foetuses may have received pro- 

 tection, provided that a period of not less than six days have elapsed 

 between the primary inoculation of the foetus in utero and parturi- 

 tion. 



IX. In those cases where the mother died of anthrax contracted at 

 the time of the inoculation of the foe bus in utero, and excepting the 

 last-mentioned one, the heart's blood of the other foetuses in utero 

 was not found to contain any anthrax bacilli, as proved by cultivations 

 when the examination was made, several hours after the death of the 

 mother. But if the examination and cultivations were made some 

 sixty or seventy hours later, then any or all of the foetuses, according 

 to the temperature of the air prevailing, may have anthrax bacilli in 

 their blood. 



[X. The inoculation of a foetus in utero with anthrax may produce 

 one of three results : 



(i.) If during the inoculation of a foetus the anthrax bacilli gain 

 entrance into the tissues of the mother, owing to imperfect 

 manipulation, the mother naturally succumbs to the disease, 

 (ii.) In some cases the organisms pass through from the foetal to 

 the maternal vessels ; this is probably due to some change 

 taking place in the placental tissues, either inflammatory or 

 traumatic in origin. 



(iii.) Lastly, in those cases where the foetus alone is inoculated, the 

 mother remains free from the bacillary disease, and at a later 

 date is found to have acquired immunity. Jan. 22, 1889.] 

 XI. In sections of the placenta of the foetus primarily inoculated 

 with anthrax in utero, and through which the mother received pro- 

 tection, the anthrax bacilli, after staining with aniline dyes, are to be 

 seen wholly in the foetal, while there is a total absence of them in the 

 maternal portion. 



The Society adjourned over the Christmas Recess to Thursday, 

 January 10th, 1889. 



Presents, December 20, 1888. 

 Transactions. 



Berlin : Konigl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften. Sitzungs- 

 berichte. 1888. Hefte 31-37. 8vo. Berlin. The Academy. 



