SYNOPSIS OP CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 85 
Debris of Anthrax Animals.” From his ten to twelve years’ 
research on this subject result the following conclusions : 
1. Virulence persists in anthrax blood after two, three, 
four, or five days, at most, and until this blood, having un¬ 
dergone decomposition, has become fetid. The rapidity of 
loss of virulence is proportional to the elevation of the sur¬ 
rounding atmosphere, and the time since the animal’s death. 
2. After eight days it is the exception, even under the 
most favorable circumstances, for virulence to remain in 
the carcase. In general it persists no longer than from four 
to five days in summer and a week in winter. 
3. All products from the living animal agree in this 
respect. Thus, blood, lymph, serous fluids, and pulp from 
internal organs putrefying lose their virulence at the com¬ 
mencement of the putrefaction. 
4. So thoroughly does removal of the virulence depend 
on the phenomena of putrid decomposition that all circum¬ 
stances tending to promote this also hasten the loss of 
contagion-bearing properties. 
5. Conversely, by preventing decomposition without 
chemical action (as by inducing cold, rigidity, for instance), 
virulence may be retained for a long time. 
6. The charbon virus is destroyed by the action of various 
chemical agents, alcohol, and astringent salts, even by a 
temperature of boiling water. Blood simply dried in the 
open air or in a confined space, and at various temperatures, 
loses its virulence. 
7. The virus is evanescent in excretory products, as dejec¬ 
tions of anthrax patients. 
Still, while stating these points so absolutely, Colin 
hesitates to accept a challenge from Pasteur to lay the 
matter before a special committee of members of the 
academy. He divided with his opponent once before on 
the question of the transmissibility of charbon to fowls, 
and is hardly yet prepared to again acknowledge himself 
in error. The arguments he adduces are all nega¬ 
tive, and of no avail against the positive results of the 
experiments of M. Pasteur. The latter during the course 
of the discussion says, “1 can without much difficulty 
explain the confused criticism to which my work has been 
subjected, since medicine and surgery are now, as it 
seemed to me, in a state of crisis and transition. Two cur¬ 
rents involve them. One doctrine is becoming worn out 
with age, while another has just been born. The former, 
with still numerous partisans, is based on the belief in the 
spontaneous origin of transmissible diseases. The latter is 
