ANTHRAX. 139 



since the flesh of animals affected by splenic fever, 

 and only killed when the microbe is fully developed 

 in the blood, is often eaten in farmhouses. In this 

 case the custom prevalent among French peasants of 

 eating over-cooked meat constitutes the chief safeguard, 

 since the bacteria and their germs are thus destroyed. 



II. VACCINATION FOE ANTHRAX. 



The rapidity with which anthrax is propagated 

 by inoculation generally renders all kinds of treat- 

 ment useless; if, however, the wound through which 

 the microbe is introduced can be discovered, it should 

 be cauterized at once. This method is often successful 

 in man. The pustule is cauterized with red-hot iron, 

 or with bichloride of mercury and thymic acid, two 

 powerful antiseptics, certain to destroy the bacteridium. 

 It is expedient, as an hygienic measure, to burn the 

 tainted carcases, and if this is not done, they should 

 be buried at a much greater depth than is usually the 

 case. 



But the preservative means on which chief re- 

 liance is now placed is vaccination with the virus 

 of anthrax. Pasteur has ascertained that when 

 animals are inoculated with a liquid containing bac- 

 teridia of which the virulence has been attenuated 

 by culture carried as far as the tenth generation, or 

 even further, their lives are preserved. They take 



