1800.] Bacillus anthracis, and their Phyxioloyical Action. 79 



proteids) and of mineral salts of the composition of the salts of the 

 serum. 



The cultivation of the bacilli was continued for 10 15 days, and 

 the organisms removed by filtering through Chamberland's filter. 

 The filtrate contained the products of the bacterial growth, viz. : 



1. Proto-albumose and deutero-albumose, and a trace of peptone : all 

 with the same chemical reactions as the similar bodies formed in 

 peptic digestion. 



2. An alkaloid. 



3. Small quantities of leucin and ty rosin. 



The chief characteristic of the anthrax proto- and deutero-albumose 

 is their strong alkalinity in solution an alkalinity not removed by 

 absolute alcohol, by benzene, chloroform, or ether, nor by prolonged 

 dialysis. Acid-alcohol dissolves fiom the alkaline albumoses a trace 

 of a poisonous body, but this is not in proportion to the toxicity of 

 the albumoses. The albumoses are precipitated in an alkaline condi- 

 tion by saturation with NaCl (proto-albumose) or (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . The 

 alkaloid is soluble in absolute alcohol, amyl alcohol, and in water; in- 

 soluble in benzene, chloroform, and ether. It is strongly alkaline in 

 solution, and a powerful base, readily forming salts with acids. The 

 sulphate crystallises in small needles or prisms ; the oxalate in long, 

 branching needles or flat plates. From the salts the alkaloid is easily 

 regained. In solution, the alkaloid is precipitated by phospho-tungstic, 

 phospho-molybdic, and phospho-antimonic acids and platinic chloride, 

 but not by potassio-mercnric iodide.* It is slightly volatile, and, 

 when kept exposed to the air, it becomes acid, and loses, to a great 

 extent, its poisonous properties. 



Physiological Action. 



1. The mixture of anthrax proto- and deutero-albumose is poisonous. 

 In small doses it produces in mice a local subcutaneous oedema, with 

 some sluggishness, ending in recovery. Larger doses produce a 

 greater rederna with more signs of illness, sluggishness leading to 

 prolonged stupor, coma, and death in twenty-four hours or longer. 

 A fatal dose for a mouse of 22 grams weight is 0'3 gram (subcu- 

 taneously injected). In some cases the spleen is enlarged : no organ- 

 isms being present, as shown by gelatine tube cultivations. Boiling 

 for a short time diminishes the toxicity of the proteid, but does not 

 completely destroy it, and death may result from the boiled 

 albumoses. 



2. The anthrax alkaloid produces symptoms and lesions similar to 



* With Millon's reagent, a precipitate is formed which becomes red on heating. 

 This is the same reaction as that given by most proteids, and shows that the base is 

 probably an auiido-compound. May 17, 1890. 



