ANTHRAX : PREVENTIVE INOCULATION IN LOUISIANA. 
647 
fore, the more attenuated, and seems to be somewhat preparatory 
to the second, which is more powerful. An immunizing dose 
requires one-quarter of a cubic centimetre of each strength given 
from io to 14 days apart. 
The records of preventive inoculation by the use of the 
attenuated virus, especially in European countries, seem to be 
extremely gratifying. And I think I can confidently assert 
that excellent results have been obtained in Louisiana, when all 
the conditions were favorable, such as good material, strict anti¬ 
septic care observed in its use, and the operation performed 
early in the season, so as to secure immunity before the advent 
of the hot months during which the disease usually makes its 
appearance. 
With the exception, perhaps, of a very few individual plant¬ 
ers, who imported virus direct from France, preventive inocula¬ 
tion against anthrax was but little known or practiced in Louis¬ 
iana previous to 1896. 
In that year we had an extensive outbreak in the northern 
portion of the State, but in a section containing all the condi¬ 
tions favorable for the propagation of horse-flies to carry abroad 
the infection, and I certainly never before witnessed such a 
“ fly-plague.” It was at this time that I suggested the use of 
the anthrax virus, and the doses used that season throughout 
the State amounted up to some thousands. Since then the use 
of the lymph has been fairly general, especially in the localities 
in which anthrax had been prevalent, as well as in those con¬ 
tiguous, until, during the past summer, the large number of 
about 30,000 doses of the Pasteur lymph alone have been used. 
It is difficult to obtain accurate data with regard to the pos¬ 
itive results of preventive inoculation in Louisiana, the work of 
vaccinating having fallen, to quite a large extent, into the hands 
of those with a very limited knowledge, if any, of the impor¬ 
tance of strict antisepsis. Some of the untoward results arising 
in consequence may here be noted : Extensive septic infection 
from dirty instruments, etc., and in some cases from infection 
of the virus through careless handling, such as frequently open- 
