"The experiments of Bert, support to some extent the 

 conclusions of Pasteur. In a series of experiments Bert 

 submitted anthrax blood to the action of considerably com- 

 pressed oxygen, and found the bacilli had disappeared, killed 

 by the oxygen, and yet the blood retained its virulence, for it 

 killed rabbits, guinea-pigs and dogs, inoculated with it : and 

 in another series of experiments Bert took anthrax blood 

 containing bacilli and added drop by drop of absolute alcohol 

 to it, until a precipitate was formed, which was dried in 

 vacuum. The dried powder was injected under the skin, and 

 it killed a rabbit, a guinea-pig and even a dog. 



*' It has been stated that the bacilli destroy life (i) by 

 acting as asphyxiants, depriving the blood of its oxygen ; and 

 (2) by mechanically obstructing the blood-vessels. Against 

 both these theories must be placed the fact that they are very 

 few in number, indeed often absent altogether in the blood 

 during life. 



u Anthrax is not transmitted by infection from one animal 

 to another, for animals kept in the closest proximity to 

 diseased ones, and placed under the most favourable condi- 

 tions for infection through the air, do not become diseased. 



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

 is prevalent in India, where it is said to attack the elephant 

 as well -as other a-nimals;-- 



"The symptoms in the ox are very analogous to those 

 in the horse. The ox suddenly goes off its feed ; rumination 

 is suspended ; there are rigors and tremblings ; partial 

 sweats bedew the body, which is alternately hot and cold. 

 The dorso-lumbar region is excessively tender to pressure, 

 and when it is the seat of the tumour, very acute pain is thus 

 caused ; the gait becomes staggering, and the animal rapidly 

 exhausted. A recumbent posture is almost constantly main- 

 tained ; the animal will now and then attempt to rise, but 

 SSSS 



