294 ANTHRAX. 



Everything being taken into account, however, there is 

 no doubt that the mortality from natural anthrax is much 

 diminished by this system. 



Statistics are available for the twelve years 1882-93. During that 

 time 3,296,815 sheep were vaccinated, with a mortality, either after the 

 first or second vaccination or during the subsequent twelve months, of 

 .94 per cent, as contrasted with the ordinary mortality in all the flocks 

 of the districts, of 10 per cent. During the same time 438,824 cattle 

 were vaccinated, with a mortality of .34 per cent, as contrasted with a 

 probable mortality of 5 per cent if they had been unprotected. 



Other means of immunising animals against anthrax have 

 been elaborated, but these have a more strictly scientific 

 interest. In dealing with the toxines of anthrax we have 

 already referred to the work of Hankin and Wesbrook on 

 this point. We have also seen that Marmier succeeded in 

 immunising animals by using a toxine isolated by him. 

 Even, however, as a method of immunising animals for 

 scientific observations Pasteur's method still obtains. 



Serum Anticharbonneux. The properties of the serum 

 of animals vaccinated against anthrax have been investigated 

 by Marchoux. The animals were immunised in the usual 

 way. The serum of sheep and especially of rabbits was 

 found to afford a certain degree of protection to susceptible 

 animals against subsequent inoculation with virulent bacilli. 

 It also exhibited a small degree of curative action. When 

 it was injected immediately after inoculation with the bacilli 

 a certain number of the animals survived, but in proportion 

 as the symptoms of the disease (oedema, fever, etc.) were 

 established, so was the curative effect diminished, even 

 though large doses of the serum were employed. According 

 to Marchoux, this serum stimulates the phagocytes success- 

 fully to attack the bacilli. Such a serum would probably 

 fall to be classed as anti-microbic and not anti-toxic, but its 

 properties require further investigation. 



Methods of Examination. These include (a) micro- 

 scopic examination ; (b] the making of cultures ; and (c) 

 test inoculations. 



(a) Microscopic Examination. In a case of suspected 



