134 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



arily immune against infection. By thus revealing the exact 

 extent to which a given stable of horses is infected, other 

 rules of sanitary medicine, too complicated to discuss here, 

 can be inaugurated and carried out, w^ith the result of en- 

 tirely eliminating the disease. 



2. BACILLUS OF NICOLAIER (bacillus tetani).— 

 The specific micro-organism of tetanus, is anaerobic, flagel- 

 lated, sporogenous, motile, non-chromogenic, pathogenic and 

 toxic bacillus. It is a microbe of well-tilled soil and is found 

 abundantly in street dirt, stable dust, dung of herbivora, in- 



FlG. 11. 

 Tetanus Bacillus from a Lesion. 



testines of herbivora, the unclean skin of man and animals. 

 It is very evident that it is ingested with food containing par- 

 ticles of earth and that it rapidly multiplies in the intestines 

 owing to the sheltered environment (anaerobic) these or- 

 gans furnish for its growth. The inert gases, minus oxygen, 

 in the bowels furnishes a very suitable medium for its rapid 

 multiplication. It is 2 to 4 micromillimeters long by 0.3 to 

 0.5 thick. It was discovered by Nico'aier in 1884. (For 

 detailed description see chapter on Tetanus, Part II). 



3. ACTINOMYCES BOVIS (ray fungus), the specific 



