THE ANAEROBIC BACILLI 771 



species. Twelve to twenty-four hours after inoculation there appears 

 at the point of entrance a soft, puffy swelling, which on palpation 

 is found to emit an emphysematous crackling. The emphysema 

 spread rapidly, often reaching the abdomen and chest within a day. 

 The course of the disease is extremely acute, the fever high, the 

 general prostration extreme. Death may result within three or 

 four days after inoculation. 



At autopsy the swollen area is found to be infiltrated with a 

 thick exudate, blood-tinged and foamy. Subcutaneous tissue and 

 muscles are edematous and crackle with gas. The internal organs 

 show parenchymatous degeneration and hemorrhagic areas. The 

 bacilli, immediately after death, are found but sparsely distributed 

 in the blood and internal organs, but are demonstrable in enormous 

 numbers in the edema surrounding the central focus. 



If carcasses are allowed to lie unburied for some time, the bacilli 

 will attain a general distribution, and the entire body will be found 

 bloated with gas, the organs filled with bubbles. Practically identical 

 conditions are found after experimental inoculation. 



Toxins. According to the investigations of Leclainche and 

 Vallee, 34 the bacillus of symptomatic anthrax produces a soluble 

 toxin. It is not formed to any extent in ordinary broth, but is 

 formed in considerable quantities in broth containing blood or 

 albuminous animal fluids. 



The best medium for obtaining toxin, according to the same 

 authors, is the bouillon of Martin, 35 made up of equal parts of veal 

 infusion and a pepton solution obtained from the macerated tissues 

 of the stomachs of pigs. The toxin contained in filtrates of such 

 cultures is quite resistant to heat, but rapidly deteriorates if free 

 access of air is allowed. 



Immunity. Active immunization against the bacillus of symp- 

 tomatic anthrax was first accomplished by Arloing 36 and his col- 

 laborators by the subcutaneous inoculation of cattle with tissue- 

 extracts of infected animals. The work of these authors resulted 

 in a practical method. of immunization which is carried out as 

 follows : 



34 Leclainche et Vallee, Ann. de 1'inst. Pasteur, 1909. 



135 Martin, Ann. de 1'inst. Pasteur, 1898. 



36 Arloing, Cornevin, et Thomas, "Le Charbon Sympt.," ete., Paris, 1887. Ref. 

 from Grassberger und Schattenfroh, Kraus und Levaditi, "Handbuch " etc vol 

 i, pt. 2, 



