Tenacity. Pathogenicity. 



5 



hours (Siekely). They also remain virulent for a long time in pure or putrid 

 water, in putrid blood and in the ground (according to Sirena & Scagliosi, they 

 live in the ground for 3 years, in water for 17 and in ichor for 15 months). They 

 resist the direct sunlight for 100 hours (Momont). Dry heat (120-140°C.) destroys 

 them in 3 hours, while blowing steam of 100 °C. kills them in 5 minutes (Koch). 

 They may still germinate after 5 minutes boiling (Geppert). On the other hand, 

 the action of a falling temperature from 76.5 to 72°C., inside of a manure pile is 

 sufficient to destroy the spores (Pfeiler). 



Of the disinfectants, corrosive sublimate is the most effective, since a solu- 

 tion of 1:1000 destroys the spores in 20 minutes (the addition of 0.5% hydro- 

 chloric acid or 2% carbolic acid increases the action of the solution). The follow- 

 ing are also effective: fresh chlorine and iodine water (2%), formaldehyde (%%), 

 permanganate of potash (5%), lysol (5%), carbolic acid (5%), fresh chlorate of 

 lime (5%), chlorine gas (5%), fluorhydrogen" (0.1%), and the vapors of formalde- 

 hyde, which will positively disinfect hair containing spores in 48 hours (Gruber). 



Pickling destroys the bacilli in meat after II/2 months (Peuch), but it does 

 not affect the spores (Abel). The drying and salting »of hides does not destroy 

 the attached spores which may remain virulent for 125 days on hides that have been 



'r^^'td^X 



Fig. 4. (a) deep, (b) superficial colonies of the anthrax bacillus on 

 gelatin plates. Enlarged 80. ( After Fliigge. ) 



treated with fresh milk of lime (Griglio). In sunlight hides containing the bacilli 

 are sterilized in 6i/^ to 7 hours, while those containing spores are not sterilized even 

 after exposure for 13 hours (Esmarch). Quick lime solution and lime kill the spores 

 in the tanning process in 12-17 days. Infusion of quebracho bark does not affect 

 them in 12 days (Keszler), the lime pits (0.5-0.8% lime contents) are not effective 

 against the spores (Gartner & Dammann. See also p. 23). 



Pathogenicity. Rabbits, guinea pigs and mice are usually 

 killed by subcutaneous or intravenous injections of anthrax 

 blood or cultures, in 1 to 3 days, while infection is less certain 

 when the spores are fed. By the first method horses and sheep 

 may easily be infected, while in cattle a local infection only re- 

 sults sometimes, even after the injection of larger quantities of 

 virus. The infection of herbivora is also quite easily accom- 

 plished by feeding spores, even when the mucous membrane of 

 the digestive organs is in a healthy condition. Although hogs 



