CHAPTEE XIV. 



ANTHRAX; AND HYDROPHOBIA. 



Bacillus Anthracis. 



THE specific cause of anthrax was one of the first bacteria 

 which was proved to be an etiologic factor in the production 

 of disease. Bacillus anthracis has served as a basis for most 

 bacteriologic studies which have been made since its dis- 

 covery. It was detected as early as 1849 in the blood of 



FIG. 133. 



Anthrax bacillus : agar culture. X 900. (Park.) 



animals suffering w T ith anthrax, but was not successfully cul- 

 tivated until 1876. The disease is usually referred to as 

 splenic fever. 



Morphology and biology : The anthrax bacillus is a long, 

 slender rod, with squared ends, sometimes slightly concave. 



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