68 TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



In this manner there is obtained a grayish- 

 white substance which is soluble in water, and 

 which is fatal in large doses, but which, given in 

 repeated small doses, confers immunity against 

 anthrax. 



According to Hankin, it seems that the toxic 

 property of this toxin is due to an albumose. 



Marchoux * has been able to confer immunity 

 upon sheep by injecting first small quantities of 

 the filtered culture of the anthrax bacilli, and then 

 the virulent anthrax itself. 



The animals thus rendered immune yield a serum 

 which may be used as a vaccin against anthrax, 

 and which even possesses curative properties under 

 certain conditions. 



In every case the acquired immunity is only 

 temporary. We will recall to recollection the 

 method employed by Pasteur for vaccinating 

 against anthrax, using attenuated cultures, a 

 method which is practiced daily at the present time.f 



From the cultures of symptomatic anthrax 

 (Bacillus Chauvse) Chauvee extracted a very active 

 toxin which can withstand without impairment 

 a temperature of iio° C.f Roux § has shown that 



* Annal. Instit. Pasteur, ix, p. 785. 



•j- Chamberland: Le Charbon et la Vaccination Charhonneuse, 

 Paris, 1887. Petermann: Annal. Instit. Pasteur, vi, p. 32. 

 % Deutschmann: Annal. Instit. Pasteur., viii, p. 403. 

 § Annal. Inst. Pasteur, Feb. 1888. 



