396 QUARTER-EVIL 



condition of the nerve cells in experimental poisoning with the 

 botulinus toxin has been investigated independently by Marinesco 

 and by Kempner and Pollack, and these observers agree as to 

 the occurrence of marked degenerative changes, especially in the 

 motor cells in the spinal cord and medulla. Marinesco also 

 observed hypertrophy and proliferation of the neuroglia cells 

 around them. 



These observations, therefore, show that in one variety of 

 meat-poisoning the symptoms are produced by the absorption of 

 the toxins of the bacillus botulinus from the alimentary canal, 

 and, as van Ermengem points out, it is of special importance to 

 note that the meat may be extensively contaminated with this 

 bacillus and may contain relatively large quantities of its toxins 

 without the ordinary signs of decomposition being present. 

 The production of an extracellular toxin by this organism, with 

 extremely potent action on the nervous system, is a fact of great 

 scientific interest and has a bearing on the etiology of other 

 obscure nervous affections. 



QUARTER-EVIL (GERMAN, RAUSCHBRAND ; FRENCH, CHARBON 

 SYMPTOMATIQUE). 



The characters of the bacillus need be only briefly described, as, so 

 far as is known, it never infects the human subject. Tlie natural disease, 

 which specially occurs in certain localities, affects chiefly sheep, cattle, 

 and goats. Infection takes place by some wound of the surface, and 

 there spreads in the region around, inflammatory swelling attended by 

 bloody oedema and emphysema of the tissues. The part becomes greatly 

 swollen, and of a dark, almost black, colour. Hence the name " black- 

 leg" by which 'the disease is sometimes known. The bacillus which 

 produces this condition is present in large numbers in the affected tissues, 

 associated with other organisms, and also occurs in small numbers in 

 the blood of internal organs. 



The bacillus morphologically closely resembles that of malignant 

 oedema. Like the latter, also, it is a strict anaerobe, and its conditions 

 of growth as regards temperature are also similar. It is, however, some- 

 what thicker, and does not usually form such long filaments. Moreover 

 the spores, which are of oval shape and broader than the bacillus, are 

 almost invariably situated close to one extremity, though not actually 

 terminal (Fig. 132). The characters of the cultures, also, resemble 

 those of the bacillus of malignant oedema, but in a stab culture in 

 glucose agar there are more numerous and longer lateral offshoots, the 

 growth being also more luxuriant (Fig. 131, c). This bacillus is actively 

 motile, and possesses numerous lateral flagella. 



The disease can be readily produced in various animals, e.g. guinea- 

 pigs, by inoculation with the affected tissues of diseased animals, and 

 also by means of pure cultures, though an intramuscular injection of a 

 considerable amount of the latter is sometimes necessary. The condition 

 produced in this way closely resembles that in malignant cedema, though 



