PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF ANTHRAX. 2C9 



In the thickness of the muscular substance black spots are 

 found from the escapement of blood. These morbid alterations 

 are most marked in tumours and charbonous engorgements, con- 

 stituting masses of serosity of a citron colour, which raise the 

 skin, infiltrate the subcutaneous areolar tissue, and penetrate 

 deeply into the organs of the body. Infected gas is disengaged 

 from the surface of the divided tissues ; here and there portions 

 of the tissues are decomposed. 



It is a remarkable and important peculiarity that in these 

 vast engorgements no trace of inflammation can be found, no 

 plastic material, no injections, no vascular arborizations, which 

 characterise the inflammatory process. 



M. Delafond has recognised the following microscopic par- 

 ticulars : — 



(1.) That where tumours are situated the tissue is penetrated 

 by blood globules deprived in part of their colouring matter. 



(2.) That the red colour of the tissue is due to the escape of 

 the hsematin from the red globules. 



(3.) That the serosity of the infiltrations is fibrino-albuminous. 



(4.) That this serosity is associated with a great number of 

 very little globules, abnormally indented on their surfaces. 



(5.) That the areolar plates, in which this serosity is deposited, 

 are slightly opaque from coagulation of fibrin. 



The morbid lesions of the solids are evidently a consequence 

 of the primitive alteration of the blood. 



The large vessels — the aortee, venie cava, vena porta, the 

 cavities of the heart — are filled with fluid blood reflecting a 

 strong dark violet tint, presenting no signs of coagulation. 

 The walls of the vessels and of the heart possess a red colour, 

 which resists washing, showing that the colouring matter has 

 penetrated the tissues. 



These alterations explain the formation of black spots, of 

 effusions, of bloody extravasations, and of serous citron infiltra- 

 tions on the surface and in the depths of the organs. At the 

 same time the deficiency of fibrin renders the fluid incoagulable 

 both during life and after death. The heart is flaccid, soft, and 

 covered with bluish spots. The blood in both sides of the heart 

 is black, liquid, and more abundant in the right than in the left 

 side of that organ. When exposed to the atmosphere it retains 

 its black colour, or is but very slightly reddened. Some deny 

 that it changes colour at all. 



