166 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA. 



tion of the bacteria, brought to light by Toussaint, 

 is necessary in order to explain the production of 

 the tumors of charbon." 



Davaine, in consideration of the immobility of 

 the Bacillus anthracis, admits that every tumor 

 results from a local inoculation. We have called 

 attention to the fact that the virulent agents of 

 variola and of rugeola, although motionless, pro- 

 duce nevertheless local manifestations. In the 

 second place, the charbon of the horse is often 

 accompanied by internal tumors of which the or- 

 igin evidently cannot be an external cause. Fi- 

 nally we have pointed out by Bouley some horses 

 of La Plata in which the local manifestations 

 did not appear until after the general symp- 

 toms. This view had already been sustained by 

 Chabert. However, notwithstanding all the proofs 

 furnished turn about by experimental pathology and 

 clinical study, one desideratum still remains. It 

 is necessary to verify the presence of the spores 

 of Bacillus anthracis in the lands where charbon 

 prevails as an epizootic and to discover its means of 

 transportation. 



Before abandoning this question, we think it 

 proper to examine the efficacy of antiseptic treat- 

 ment. Carbolic acid, studied by Koch, has been 

 employed with success ; boracic acid, which acts 

 upon the bacteria by depriving them of oxygen, 

 has been utilized by Decroix, veterinarian of the 

 army ; tincture of iodine, employed, like carbolic 

 acid, — by subcutaneous injections, — has given 

 rise to grave accidents. Beside these general 



