ANTHRAX. 



133 



The microbe so named by Davaine must from its 

 characteristics be assigned to the genus Bacillus, and 

 is now termed Bacillus anthracis. This disease, 

 which affects men as well as animals, is characterized 

 by general depression, by redness and congestion of 

 the eyes, by short and irregular respiration, and by 

 the formation of abscesses, which feature, in the case 

 of the human subject, has procured for it the name of 

 malignant pustule. The disease is quickly terminated 



Fig. 68. Bacillus anthracis of splenic fever in different stages of development: 

 bacilli, spores, and curled filaments (much enlarged). 



by death, and an autopsy shows that the blood is 

 black, that intestinal hsemorrhage has occurred, and 

 that the spleen is abnormally large, heavy, and gorged 

 with blood ; hence the name of splenic fever. The 

 disease is generally inoculated by the bite of flies 

 which have settled upon carcases and absorbed the 

 bacteria, or by blood-poisoning through some accidental 

 scratch, and this is especially the case with knackers 



