BACILLUS OF ANTHRAX 10$ 



CHAPTER XVII 

 BACILLUS OF ANTHRAX 



Bacillus Anthracis (Rayer and Davaine). Rayer and 

 Davaine, in 1850, first described this bacillus; but Pasteur, 

 and later Koch, gave it the importance it now has. 



Synonyms. Bactericie du charbon (Fr.); Milzbrand bacil- 

 lus (German) ; bacillus of splenic fever or malignant pustule. 



Origin. In blood of anthrax-suffering animals. 



Fig. 42. Bacillus anthracis, stained to show the spores (X 1000) 

 (Frankel and Pfeiffer). 



Form. Rods of variable length, largest of pathogenic or- 

 ganisms 4 IJL to 10 /* in length, nearly the size of a human blood- 

 corpuscle; broad, cup-shaped ends; in bouillon cultures 

 long threads are formed, with large oval spores (Figs. 42, 43). 



Spores. Single, large, very resistant. Dry heat, 140 C., 

 in three hours; steam in five minutes; necessary to kill. Do 



