MICROBIAL DISEASES OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 841 



oedema tous. Muscle fibers show various degenerative changes. 

 The abundant gases are mostly hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Blood 

 from the general circulation is normal as to color and coagulation. 



B. anthracis symptomatici is about 3/4 to 6/x long by 0.5/1 to o.8/i thick. This is 

 a spore-bearing bacillus of drum-stick shape or spindle shape and is anaerobic. It 

 grows best at about 37. It stains either by the simple aniline dyes or by Gram's 

 method. In artificial cultures, it sometimes shows long forms. This organism is 

 motile for a short time, but soon loses this power, probably on account of the oxygen 

 to which it is exposed. It shows well-defined flagella and develops spores. The 

 specific organism may be demonstrated by the microscope in the blood without 

 staining if done soon after death. 



The bacillus of symptomatic anthrax is easily demonstrated in 

 cover-glass smears from the affected tissues, and is very different from 

 the bacteria of anthrax and haemorrhagic septicaemia, the only diseases 

 liable to be mistaken for blackleg excepting malignant oedema. 

 Anthrax is aerobic. Symptomatic anthrax is anaerobic. This organ- 

 ism may also be demonstrated by animal inoculation. The guinea-pig 

 serves well for this purpose; it is very susceptible to inoculation and 

 gives a characteristic blackleg reaction in both symptoms and lesions. 

 From the lesions thus produced the characteristic bacilli are easily 

 demonstrated by the microscope. 



Elimination of this virus from the body occurs chiefly in the various 

 discharges, and especially in the manure and also in general decompose 

 tion of the carcass. Dissemination of this disease is chiefly if not ex- 

 clusively by diseased carcasses and parts of carcasses and by the dis- 

 charges. Contaminated soil plays a very important part in the 

 prevalence of this disease. It appears possible that the specific 

 bacillus may even multiply in the soil. 



Carcasses should be burned if possible, otherwise very deeply buried 

 and covered with lime. Contaminated grounds, or stable floors must 

 be thoroughly disinfected, for the infection is very persistent and difficult 

 to eradicate except by most vigorous effort since the spores are very 

 resistant to heat and drying. Preventive inoculation after the method 

 of Arloing as improved by Kitt is very satisfactory. Their vaccine 

 consists of specially treated muscular tissues from the diseased 

 part. 



