BACILLUS E DEM AT IS 593 



In continuing the inoculations from animal to animal 

 small portions of organs or a few drops of the edema-fluid 

 should be used. The inoculation may also be successfully 

 made by introducing into a pocket in the skin bits of steril- 

 ized thread or paper upon which cultiu-es have been dried. 



The methods for obtaining the organism in pure culture, 

 from the cadaver of an animal that has succumbed to infec- 

 tion by the bacUlus of malignant edema, are in all essential 

 respects the same as those given for obtaining cultures 

 from tissues in general; but it must be remembered that 

 the organism is a strict anaerobe, and Avill not grow under 

 the influence of oxygen. (See methods of cultivating 

 anaerobic species.) 



In certain superficial respects this bacillus suggests, as 

 said above, bacterium anthracis, but differs from it in so 

 many important details that there is no excuse for con- 

 founding the two. 



Note. — From what has been said of this organism, what 

 are the most important differential points between it and 

 bacillus anthracis? Inoculate several mice with small por- 

 tions of garden-earth and street-dust. Isolate the organism 

 that agrees most nearly with the description here given for 

 the bacillus of malignant edema. Compare its morpholog- 

 ical, biological, and pathogenic peculiarities with those of 

 bacillus anthracis imder similar circumstances; especially 

 its appearance in the tissues and fluids. 



Still another pathogenic organism that may be present 

 in the soil is 



38 



