CHAPTER XIV. 



ANTHRAX; AND HYDROPHOBIA. 



Bacillus Ant hr a cis. 



THE specific cause of anthrax was one of the first bacteria 

 which was proved to be an etiologic factor in the production 

 of disease. Bacillus anthracis has served as a basis for most 

 bacteriologic studies which have been made since its dis- 

 covery. It was detected as early as 1849 in the blood of 



FIG. 133. 



Anthrax bacillus : agar culture. X 900. (Park.) 



animals suffering with anthrax, but was not successfully cul- 

 tivated until 1876. The disease is usually referred to as 

 splenic fever. 



Morphology and biology : The anthrax bacillus is a long, 

 slender rod, with squared ends, sometimes slightly concave. 



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