ANTHRAX. 277 



The results obtained by Pasteur in his experi- 

 ments relating to protective inoculations against 

 anthrax, have been of the highest importance, and 

 many persons have been led to share in the san- 

 guine expectation of the distinguished French 

 chemist, that not only in this disease, but in the 

 infectious diseases generally, protective inocula- 

 tions may eventually be successfully practised. 

 The various methods of effecting " attenuation of 

 virus " have been described in PART THIRD of the 

 present volume. 



Pasteur recommends, in anthrax, a double inoc- 

 ulation, first with a greatly mitigated virus, pre- 

 mier vacci'n, and subsequently with a more potent 

 virus, denxieme vaccin. Whether in practice it will 

 be found wise to resort to protective inoculations 

 rather than to attempt to stamp out the disease 

 by the destruction of infected animals and other 

 vigorous preventive measures, is open to question. 

 As Klein has pointed out, the method of Pasteur 

 involves a multiplication of the poison, which may 

 add to the danger of extensive losses occurring 

 among herds and flocks which have not been pro- 

 tected. Moreover, there is a certain mortality 

 from the application of the method, and we have 

 not yet learned how durable the protection may 

 be. While, therefore, we accord full honor to 

 Pasteur for his valuable contributions to science in 

 connection with this interesting subject, we must 

 admit that, as a practical measure of protection, 

 the method is still under trial. Koch is not at all 



