470 Chapter XV 



France alone, 62,000 sheep and 6,000 Bovidae. Since these first 

 attempts, made on a large scale, gave such good results, the anti- 

 anthrax practice was not long in spreading through France, then 

 into Hungary and several other European countries. Later, it 

 extended into other continents, especially into South America 

 (Argentina) 1 and Australia. Vaccinations against anthrax were also 

 applied to horses with the same good results 2 . 



In France the anti-anthrax vaccines are prepared at and sent 

 out from the Pasteur Institute of Paris. These vaccines consist of 

 broth cultures of attenuated bacilli, of which the weakest, the first 

 vaccine, is fatal to the mouse and small guinea-pigs. The bacilli of 

 the second vaccine are less attenuated, and are capable of killing 

 not only adult guinea-pigs but even a certain number of rabbits, 

 when inoculated subcutaneously. The two vaccines are races of the 

 anthrax bacillus, capable of producing spores which present the same 

 degree of virulence as the filamentous bacilli which gave them birth. 



The anti-anthrax vaccines are sent out in tubes containing the 

 quantity necessary for the vaccination of a large number of animals. 

 The vaccinations are made especially in spring in order that the 

 animals may be protected during the hot season, which is usually 

 more favourable to the development of anthrax epidemics. 



In the sheep the vaccines are injected below the skin on the 

 inner aspect of the thigh. One-eighth of a c.c. of the first vaccine 

 is injected with a somewhat modified Pravaz syringe. Twelve or 

 [493] fifteen days later a similar injection is made on the opposite side with 

 the second vaccine. In the Bovidae the vaccines are injected behind 

 the shoulders, where the skin is thinnest. In the horse the injections 

 must be made on the sides of the neck and shoulders. In large 

 mammals double the amount (^th of a c.c.) of each vaccine is 

 injected. 



The tubes of vaccine, once opened, should not be employed a 

 second time. Care must be taken to use the whole of their contents 

 at one series of vaccinations. 



The vaccinal injections produce tumefaction at the point of 

 inoculation and are followed by a slight rise of temperature. But 

 these symptoms are of little importance and soon disappear. Serious 

 complications and fatal results from the vaccinations are very rare. 



1 J. Mendez, Anal. d. Circ. Med. Argent., Buenos Aires, 1901, t. xxiv, Nos. 5, 6. 



2 On the methods of vaccination against anthrax see Chamberland, *' Le charbon 

 et la vaccination charbonneuse," Paris, 1883. 



