ANTHRAX. 289 



of obtaining a suitable virus for inoculation, found that the virus 

 modified by transmission through the guinea-pig, and, cultivated 

 under particular conditions, gradually lost its activity, and at 

 last became practically inert ; and it occurred to him that, by 

 making use of this fact, a virus might be obtained so far modified 

 as to be sufficient to ensure protection and yet not endanger the 

 life of an animal inoculated with it, and this he found could be 

 done with success. 



The priority of this discovery is therefore claimed for England, 

 but the meiit of working out its details is undoubtedly due to 

 I'asteur. 



VARIETIES OF ANTHRAX. 



The more recent investigators are disposed to confine the 

 terra anthrax to that form of disease characterised by black 

 tumour, associated with the presence in the economy of the 

 Bacillus anthracis ;■ but as the term merely indicates a symptom 

 — namely, a black tumour, the charbon (coal-like) of the French 

 — I intend to include under it all those diseases in which it is an 

 expression or a symptom, contenting myself by pointing out in 

 which of them the bacilli have been discovered, and which are 

 proved to be contagious. 



Chabert designates anthrax or charbouous diseases as foul 

 affections of different natures, and external tumours terminating 

 in mortification of the tissues, and divides them into three kinds, 

 namely : — 



1st. Charhonous or Anthrax Fever. — In this form there are no 

 external manifestations, and it is rapidly fatal ; the |?os^ morteub 

 appearances being engorgement and congestion of the spleen, 

 liver, mesentery, intestinal mucous membrane, the sublumbar 

 tissues, lungs, and heart. In some cases death is preceded by 

 roughness of the coat, dry, hot skin, excessive sensibility over 

 the dorso-lumbar region, choking cough, glairy discharge from 

 the nostrils, and a quick, strong pulse. Sometimes the animal 

 may live long enough for level tumours to form under the skin ; 

 but very often the patients succumb without presenting the least 

 symptom of the malady, or in a few hours after the first appear- 

 ance of illness. 



ANTHRAX IN THE HORSE. 



Anthrax in the horse rarely occurs in this country, but is 



u 



