270 BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



him that virulent fluids containing anthrax rods 

 did not resist either alcohol or compressed oxy- 

 gen, and that it was only when reproductive spores 

 were present that the flakes of material precipi- 

 tated by alcohol gave evidence of virulence. Upon 

 microscopical examination these 'shining spores 

 were detected in the flakes in question, and their 

 continued vitality after the treatment indicated 

 was proved by their germination in a culture- 

 fluid. 



The anthrax rods are killed by ten minutes' ex- 

 posure to a temperature of 54 C. (129.2 Fahr.), 

 by desiccation, and by putrefaction of the fluid con- 

 taining them, in the absence of oxygen ; but the 

 resting-spores resist prolonged boiling (Pasteur), 

 and are not injuriously affected by desiccation or 

 by putrefaction. Spores are not formed in the 

 rods as they are found in the body of a living 

 animal ; but after death, under favorable circum- 

 stances, these rods grow into filaments in the in- 

 terior of which shining oval bodies are developed, 

 which are the spores in question. Thus the car- 

 cass of a dead animal may become a storehouse of 

 anthrax seed, which may for many years after its 

 death infect pastures in which the animal was 

 buried. But no development of spores occurs in 

 the absence of oxygen ; and under these circum- 

 stances the rods quickly disintegrate and disap- 

 pear. This is shown by enclosing in a tightly 

 corked bottle blood from an animal recently dead. 

 Putrefactive decomposition soon takes place, but 



