TOXINS OF THE BACILLUS ANTHRACIS 343 



(2) Woolsorter's Disease. The pathology of this affection 

 was worked out in this country especially by Greenfield. The 

 local lesion is usually situated in the lower part of the trachea or 

 in the large bronchi, and is in the form of swollen patches in 

 the mucous membrane, often with haemorrhage into them, small 

 ulcers may also be seen. The tissues are cedematous, and the 

 cellular elements are separated, but there is usually little or no 

 necrosis. There is enormous enlargement and engorgement of 

 the mediastinal and bronchial glands, and haemorrhagic infiltra- 

 tion of the cellular tissue in the region. There are pleural and 

 pericardial effusions, and haemorrhagic spots occur beneath the 

 serous membranes. The lungs show great congestion, collapse 

 and oedema. There may be cutaneous oedema over the chest 

 and neck, with enlargement of glands, and the patient rapidly 

 dies with symptoms of pulmonary embarrassment, and with a 

 varying degree of pyrexia. It is to be noted that in such cases, 

 though numerous bacilli are present in the bronchial lesions, in 

 the lymphatic glands, and affected tissues in the thorax, com- 

 paratively few may be present in the various organs, such as the 

 kidney, spleen, etc., and sometimes it may be impossible to find 

 any. 



(3) Infection occasionally takes place through the intestine, 

 probably by ingestion of spores as in the case of animals ; but 

 this condition is rare. In such cases there occur single or 

 multiple local haemorrhagic lesions in the intestinal mucous 

 membrane, the central parts of the haemorrhagic areas tending 

 to be necrotic and yellowish, and there may be a corresponding 

 affection of the mesenteric glands. 



A considerable number of cases have been recorded in which 

 hajmorrhagic meningitis, associated with the presence of the 

 anthrax bacilli in large numbers, has occurred as a complica- 

 tion of various primary lesions. 



The Toxins of the Bacillus Anthracis. Various theories 

 were formerly held as to the mode in which the anthrax bacillus 

 produces its effects. One of the earliest was the mechanical, 

 according to which it was supposed that the serious results were 

 produced by extensive blocking of the capillaries in the various 

 organs by the bacilli. According to another, it was supposed 

 that the bacilli used up the oxygen of the blood, thus leading to 

 starvation of the tissues. In modern times there has been a 

 tendency to attribute the effects produced to toxic action. 

 Sidney Martin investigated this subject, and isolated from 

 cultures, ] 'i-oto-albuinose, deutero-albumose, traces of pep- 

 tone, and alkaloidal bodies. By these, pathogenic effects were 



