168 PATHOGENIC BACTERIA 



formed by repeated injection of this into horses. This anti- 

 toxin has been used prophylactically as well as therapeuti- 

 cally and it has been decided to inject it with the preventive 

 tetanus antitoxin on the battlefield in all cases of penetrating 

 wounds. Disinfection of material from this condition requires 

 the burning of all dressings. It is the practice of surgeons 

 to remove all the tissue devitalized by a missile to remove 

 bacteria and damaged muscle upon which bacteria will grow, 

 and because the freshly trimmed healthy tissue will heal 

 better; all pieces removed would better be burned, but the 

 chlorine disinfectants will answer where this is not prac- 

 ticable. 



Bacillus of Malignant Edema. The bacillus of malignant 

 edema is a common inhabitant of the soil and may be found in 

 dust. It grows only in the absence of free oxygen, but may be 

 cultivated with ease in the laboratory, particularly if sugar 

 be added to the medium. It is a long, delicate rod, measuring 

 about 25000" inch in thickness and 8 Q 0() to 3 ^ inch in 

 length. It moves by flagella arranged along the sides. Spores 

 are formed about the middle of the length. These spores are 

 responsible for the great resistance presented by the germ. 

 The pathological properties are due to a soluble separ- 

 able toxin. The bacteria themselves do not enter the blood 

 stream. At the site of inoculation an edematous and bloody 

 swelling appears which in susceptible individuals spreads 

 rapidly. Death results from toxemia* This germ is fre- 

 quently responsible for spontaneous disease in the lower 

 animals, but in man is probably only introduced by some 

 mechanical injury. It has been known to be introduced by 

 hypodermic injections when a dirty needle was used. Its 

 most common method of introduction is in grinding dirt into 

 a wound, such as a compound fracture. All discharges or 

 dressings should be so received that they can be burned. 



Bacillus Proteus Vulgaris. The Bacillus proteus mdgaris 

 is a widely distributed organism of pronounced putrefactive 

 powers. It is very similar to the colon bacillus. It has been 



