276 
PROF. DESSART. 
thrax during life. They give to it a character of positive cer¬ 
tainty if the blood, or any other liquid taken from the patient, 
contains bacterias or their germs. The use of the microscope, 
with a sufficient magnifying power, is indispensable, if we would 
recognize the presence of these organisms. 
But the rapidity with which many of the animals die often 
renders it impossible to distinguish the symptomatic disorders. 
It is therefore only after death that the diagnosis can be estab¬ 
lished. 
The post mortem diagnosis of anthrax is based upon the ex¬ 
ternal signs exhibited by the cadavers ; upon the anatotno-patho- 
logical alterations of the fluids and tissues; the presence of the 
bacteridies in the economy, if looked for before putrefaction has 
begun ; or of their corpuscle-germs, if already phenomena of putrid 
decomposition exist ; upon anamnesis; at last, in case of doubt, 
upon experimental inoculation. Let us consider these different 
points. 
1. Cadaver .—The body of the animal which has died of an¬ 
thrax decomposes rapidly, especially if it has not been emptied 
immediately after death. It also cools off quickly, and becomes 
tympanitic in a few minutes. The natural openings, such as the 
mouth, nostrils, vulva and anus remain open, and allow the escape 
of bloodv matters—blackish, mixed with mucuosities and excre- 
mentitial products. Apparent mucous membranes are infiltrated, 
ecchymosed, and, at times, strongly marked by wide, black macu- 
lation. The hairs of the bod} 7 ', neck and tail are easily pulled 
out. The external localizations are found with their already 
described aspects. Where they exist there is subcuaneous emphy¬ 
sema, due to the formation of gasses, the beginning of the putre¬ 
faction of the histological structure and of the fluids moistening 
them. 
2. Alterations of fluids and tissues .—The blood is much 
changed in its physical, chemical and histological qualities. It is 
black, adhesive, and incoagulable, and is always destitute of fibrin. 
The proportion of carbonic acid is enormously in excess. The 
liermaties, altered in form, are as if torn upon their borders or 
outlines, and they gather more together. Bacteridies appear, 
