ANTHRAX. 133 
The microbe so named by Davaine must from its 
characteristics be assigned to the genus Bacillus, and 
is now termed Bacillus anthracis. This disease, 
which affects men as well as animals; is characterized 
by general depression, by redness and congestion of 
the eyes, by short and irregular respiration, and by 
the formation of abscesses, which feature, in the case 
of the human subject, has procured for it the name of 
malignant pustule. The disease is quickly terminated 
ig. 68.—Bacillus anthracis of splenic fever in different stages of development: 
ae bacilli, spores, and curled filaments (much enlarged). 
by death, and an autopsy shows that the blood is 
black, that intestinal hemorrhage has occurred, and 
that the spleen is abnormally large, heavy, and gorged 
with blood; hence the name of splenic fever. The 
disease is generally inoculated by the bite of flies 
which have settled upon carcases and absorbed the 
bacteria, or by blood-poisoning through some accidental 
scratch, and this is especially the case with knackers 
