TEXT-BOOK OF BACTERIOLOGY. 215 



■which is specially dangerous to animals in a state of nature — is a 

 process which takes place on the surface of the soil or in its upper- 

 most layers; that it begins and ends there. 



In the bodies of animals no spore-formation takes place for 

 want of oxygen. But while still alive, animals suffering from an- 

 thrax discharge bloody urine and fseces, both of which contain 

 bacilli; after death bloody liquids also containing bacilli flow from 

 the mouth, nostrils, and anus; and if the body is skinned, opened, 

 and cut up, an immense number of cells are distributed around. 

 These increase, either in the blood- and urine which remain in or 

 near the surface or on suitable vegetable food media, and during 

 the hot summer weather they do not fail to produce spores. 



And when spores have once been produced, the way is open for 

 the spread of virus for the extension of the disease. Either they 

 are eaten by the cattle while grazing, and so (and entrance without 

 the aid of the earth-worm and the underground water; or they get 

 into the hay; or, as Frank has shown, into the clay used as flooring 

 of the cattle-stalls, in which case tliey lead to sudden cow-house 

 epidemics during the winter; or, lastly, they are carried away by 

 rain into brooks, etc., arrive at distant places where anthrax dis- 

 ease had never occurred before, and there lead to the breaking out 

 af mysterious, unexplainable cases of disease and death. 



These facts point plainly to the best and most sensible method 

 of dealing with the bodies of animals that have died of anthrax. 



If the diagnosis is alreadj' pretty clear, the body should on no 

 account be opened. The best thing to be done would certainly be 

 to burn the body entire. If this is not practicable it should be 

 buried 1^ or 2 metres deep, and that will certainly prevent all for- 

 mation of spores. Any bloody evacuations must be disinfected 

 without fail, a 5^ solution of carbolic acid being the best means. 

 One must also be very cautious with regards to foreign imported 

 hides and hair, with which the virus is often transported, as was 

 recently shown anew by the investigations of Rembold. 



With this we will close the subject of anthrax bacillus. All the 

 facts which numerous and precise investigations have elicited of 

 which this bacterium has been the subject have by no means been 

 given, but the chief points have been presented and the impression 

 must have been conveyed that our facts already stand on a firm 

 footing, and that in many respects final, indisputable results have 

 been attained. 



