Vaccination against Anthrax. 
807 
of virulent anthrax bacilli and spores was suspended. Ewes 4 and 
5 were inoculated on the inside of the thigh with a few drops of the 
same water. 
The result was as follows : — Ewe 4 (a vaccinated ewe) was 
found dead at 10.30 p.m. on the 17th. Ewe 5 (an unvaccinated 
ewe) died on the 18th, at 4 a.m. No. 1 (a vaccinated yearling ewe) 
died on the 18th, at 7.30 p.m., and No. 2 (an unvaccinated yearling 
ewe) three hours later, viz. at 10.30 p.m. No. 3 (a vaccinated ewe) 
survived longest, but it also died, namely, on the 21st, at 12.40 p.m. 
In these cases also the post-mortem examination proved that 
the animals had died from uncomplicated anthrax. 
Experiment III . — The subject of this experiment was a pony 
which had been vaccinated with the first vaccin on March 17, and 
with the second on the 30th of the same month. On May 22, at 
4 p.m., this pony was inoculated with a few drops of water holding 
in suspension virulent anthrax bacilli and spores. On the following 
day the temperature rose 2°, and a swelling about the size of a 
pigeon’s egg formed at the seat of inoculation, in front of the 
shoulder. The general health of the pony was not seriously dis- 
turbed, and the local swelling disappeared entirely in the course of 
a few days. On two subsequent occasions in the month of June 
this pony was inoculated with enormous quantities of anthrax 
bacilli. On neither occasion did the inoculation give rise to any- 
thing more serious than a slight swelling at the seat of inoculation, 
and an elevation of temperature amounting to 2° or 3°. 
The results of these experiments cannot be characterised other- 
wise than as very disappointing. With the exception of the pony, 
not one of the vaccinated animals offered any unusual resistance to 
infection, although the quantity of material used to infect them 
was not excessive. The result is doubly disappointing in the case 
of the vaccinated ewes of Experiment II., for these animals had 
been inoculated with a second vaccin that was fatal to 7 per cent, 
of the flock, and it was confidently expected that all the surviving 
animals would, when tested, give evidence of a marked degree of 
immunity. But, as has been seen, one of them actually died before 
its unvaccinated companion. 
J. McFadykan. 
Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, N.W. 
