BACTERIUM ANTHRAClS 153 



tissues. This solvent action also attacks the walls of blood- 

 vessels permitting the leaking of blood or a true hemorrhage. 

 The poisons are further absorbed by the circulation with a 

 resulting fever and general illness. The bacteria may leave 

 the body with pus or sloughs, by the expectoration in the 

 pulmonary form, or by the feces when the infection is intes- 

 tinal or has become generalized. Because of the rarity and 

 severity of this infection of human beings it is of little 

 importance in the transmission to others. Infected animals 

 and hides or brushes made from bristles of infected animals 

 are by all means the most important factors in the contrac- 

 tion of the disease by man and the Government has formu- 

 lated special rules covering the inspection of abattoirs, 

 tanneries and brush making so that dangerous animal 

 products may not be distributed. 



Protection against anthrax is secured with difficulty since 

 its organisms produce resistant spores. The sputum, feces, 

 and wound discharges should be so received that immediate 

 burning is possible. Chemical disinfection is much less 

 reliable. Five per cent, carbolic acid should be allowed to 

 remain in contact with infective material for two days. 

 Corrosive sublimate, 1 to 1000, for one day is usually suffi- 

 cient. 



Anthrax is diagnosticated by finding the bacteria, not a 

 very difficult matter, since they grow with comparative 

 luxuriance on laboratory media. Smears also assist, because 

 of the characteristic appearance of the rods. 



Morphology and General Characteristics. The anthrax 

 bacillus is a large straight rod with sharply cut ends. It 



measures rsToo to YoVo incn l n g b y 25000 to ToToo incn 

 wide. It does not possess motility, but does form round, oval, 

 or elliptical spores, situated near the center of the rod. The 

 bacilli may grow in chains suggesting bamboo sticks. They 

 require oxygen. The rods but not the spores are easy to 

 stain. There is a delicate capsule about the organisms when 

 stained in pus. They grow best at 37 C. or 98 F., but also at 



