312 ANTHRAX. 



(3) Intestinal Infection. It is probable that infection occa- 

 sionally takes place through the intestine ; but this condition is 

 rare. In such cases there is a local lesion in the intestinal 

 mucous membrane, of similar nature to that in the bronchial 

 form, with a corresponding affection of the mesenteric glands. 



The Toxins of the Bacillus Anthracis. Various theories 

 were formerly held as to the mode in which the anthrax bacillus 

 produces its effects. One of the earliest was the mechanical, 

 according to which it was supposed that the serious results were 

 produced by extensive blocking of the capillaries in the various 

 organs by the bacilli. According to another, it was supposed 

 that the bacilli used up the oxygen of the blood, thus leading to 

 starvation of the tissues. Though such modes of action may 

 occur to a small extent, we now know that in anthrax, as in 

 other diseases, the important local and general effects are 

 produced by specific poisons formed by the bacilli. We have 

 therefore to consider the nature of these toxic bodies. 



During the years 1889-90 several papers were published 

 dealing with the toxins of the bacillus anthracis. Hankin, 

 investigating the means of conferring immunity against the 

 disease, isolated from cultures in a bouillon made from Liebig's 

 meat juice an albumose which he considered to be the toxin. 

 His reason for thinking so was that, while the injection of very 

 small doses of this substance (one five-millionth to one ten- 

 millionth of the weight of an animal) lengthened the incubation 

 period of the disease, and might even ward off a fatal attack, the 

 injection of larger doses hastened the death of the animal. 

 Very full researches on the subject were carried out by Sidney 

 Martin. This observer used alkali-albumin on which to grow 

 the bacillus, this medium approaching most closely to the 

 environment of the latter when growing in the animal body. 

 From cultures in this medium, concentrated by evaporation 

 either at 100 C. or in vacuo at 35 to 45 C., there were iso- 

 lated proto-albumose, deutero-albumose, and traces of peptone. 

 The albumoses differed from those which occur in ordinary 

 digestion, in being strongly alkaline in their reaction. This 

 alkalinity, Martin held, was due to traces of an alkaloidal body 

 of which the albumoses were the precursors, and which were 

 formed when the process of digestion of the alkali-albumin by 

 the bacillus was allowed to go on further. By the albumoses 



