NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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The muscles are congested and spotted with blood spots and hæmorr-
hages due to embolism of the capillary blood-vessels caused by their be.
coming blocked up with baccilli. Their tenacity and consistence are
diminished and they become softer and more friable. They have a
reddish, yellowish, or brownish tint, according to the case.
Tumors are sometimes met with in certain regions in those where the
connective tissue is loose and abundant. They may have as their starting
point a ganglion, which becomes hypertrophied and congested, and
softened and surrounded by a zone of more or less extensive colour-
less yellow gelatiniform infiltration, They may also be found in
regions where there are no ganglia ; they offer a central zone formed of
black-material, and an outer zone yellow and gelatiniform. These tumors
are non-crepitant. They have their seat in the subcutaneous connective
tissue, they sometimes invade the muscles, which are then black, soft,
friable, and surrounded by a more or less diffuse infiltration. The skin is
easily detached over the tumors.
The blood offers the most important alterations, and the changes
which occur in it are the cause of all the other lesions; it is the blood
which carrying the bacilli and their poison spreads these agents through
the various tissues and organs of the body. It becomes black even
before death; it is generally incoagulable or coagulates badly and imper-
fectly; it is often muddy or forms soft easily broken-down clots ; it is
virulent and may be inoculated, producing the disease even before death,
and it preserves its virulence for some time after death in the body. The
red corpuscles are more or less altered, often irregular in shape and
crenated at their margins; they are more stricky, and, adhering to each
other, collect into irregular masses. The red corpuscles lose their color-
ing matter which dissolves in the plasma and by which the lining mem-
brane of the blood-vessels and the heart becomes tinted or stained
a cherry-red colour. The blood of animals dead of Anthrax contains the
virus in some quantity, and this is most important.
The heart is more or less decolorized and flabby, looking as though
it had been cooked, and of an earthy aspect. It is usually filled with
black, muddy, and incoagulated blood or blood feebly coagulated into
soft black clots. The endocardium is tinted red by the coloring matter
of the blood ; ecchymoses and hæmorrhages appear on the endocardium,
the cardiac muscle, and on the pericardium, which often contains a
quantity of red serosity. The vessels contain black blood, viscous,
muddy and incoagulable, which gives a red tint to their internal tunics
and stains the fingers.
In the capillaries of the various tissues and organs we may meet
with clots (Toussaint). The capillary system is more or less gorged
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with blood ; there is here and there exudation of sanguineous plasma
from which results an infiltration of yellow gelatiniform plasma in the
tissue around the vessels.
The ganglia are nearly always more or less changed, hypertrophied,
congested, infiltrated with fluid, and softened. The ganglia, acting as
they do more or less the part of filters, collect as a rule large quantities
of bacilli. The ganglia at the seat or point of entry of the bacillus into
the system are those first attacked, and as the lymph from them circu-
lates to the neighbouring ganglia, these also become altered. Thus, where
the mouth or throat has been the seat of entry of the poison, the ganglia
of the throat are first attacked, and we get the enormous swelling of the
throat of Loodiana disease, which extends to the ganglia of the neck,
and the œdematous swelling then extends down the neck and to the
chest.
Generally in the sheep dead of spontaneous charbon we find the
ganglia which receive the lymphatics of the tongue and pharynx, as
well as those at the commencement of the chest ; much altered, and in
oxen this is also the case.
The lymphatic vessels, more particularly those in the immediate
vicinity of the point of entry of the virus, contain a red-coloured lymph.
The serous membranes are congested, spotted with blood-spots, and
often contain a more or less coloured serosity. We frequently meet with
more or less marked alterations in the digestive organs.
The mucous membranes of the digestive apparatus may be congested
and thickened, and of a blackish or brownish colour. The buccal and
pharyngeal mucous membrane, but more particularly the mucous mem-
brane of the tongue, presents this aspect in Glos Anthrax. The tongue
in these cases is infiltrated, its vessels contain a muddy, viscous, and
incoagulable blood; its epithelium is raised in parts and presents vesicles
filled with a black serosity.
The pharyngeal mucous membrane is almost the same, its submucous
tissue is strongly congested, hyperæmic, and infiltrated in pharyngeal
charbon.
The stomach is in some cases particularly changed, congested, spotted
on its mucous and serous surfaces. It sometimes contains liquid tinged
with blood. We may find hœmorrhagic infracts on its surface inter-
nally, and on scraping the mucous membrance previously cleansed, we
see innumerable bacilli.
The peritoneum is often congested, spotted with blood spots and
points of hœmorrhage on both its parietal and visceral folds; the
capillaries are filled with bacilli and stand out like the veins of a
reticulated leaf.
C
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The vessels of the mesentery are filled with muddy blood, and we may
find more or less extensive hœmorrhages into it. The fat around the
kidneys is often charged with yellow gelatiniform serosity which may
be deep coloured.
The, intestines are frequently changed in a very marked manner, the
changes being those of congestion, ecchymoses, and hæmorrhages. The
contents of the intestine may be charged with blood of a dirty-black
colour. Sometimes we may observe a truly apoplectic condition of the
intestinal mucous membrane with a layer of escaped; blood at its surface
and in its thickness; the tissue of the mucous membrane is then infil-
trated with blood or with a sero-sanguinolent fluid.
The liver is earthy, yellow, very friable, and it has the appearance
of having been cooked or macerated; its vessels are gorged with black
muddy blood, and we may see patches of hæmorrhage on its surface.
The bacilli are numerous in the vessels.
The spleen is generally hypertrophied, more particularly in the small
ruminants; sometimes, however, it is almost normal, neither tumified,
swollen, softened, nor black, and this is more particularly the case when
death has come on rapidly, time not having been allowed for the whole
organism to become invaded completely. Although we are not warrant-
ed in rejecting the idea that Anthrax cannot be present when we find the
spleen normal, still at the same time it is none the less true that in many
cases the examination of this organ is of great importance in diagnosis.
In fact, very frequently the spleen is found to be hypertrophied, tumified,
softened, and of a black or dark brown colour. It is sometimes enormous-
ly congested and swollen and presenting a very large increase in volume.
Sometimes the congestion takes place at certain spots from which results
a lumpy appearance of soft tumors, which on incision let escape a
black muddy fluid. The bacilli are found in the spleen in enormous
quantities.
The kidneys are generally congested ; the cortical layer more or less
deep coloured, and we find ecchymoses, hæmorrhages, and numerous
bacilli. The vesical mucous membrane is congested. The urine becomes
brown, sanguinolent, and contains bacilli. This latter condition is more
especially met with in the sheep, and is explained by vascular ruptures
in the kidneys and the passage of the blood into the urine.
The lungs are more or less congested in parts and present ecchymoses,
hæmorrhages, and blood-clots.
The pleura also are congested.
Respiratory mucous membrane is congested, ecchymosed, and covered
with a sero-mucous sanguinolent material. Lastly, the lesions of char-
bon may be found in the nervous centres. The arachnoid is sometimes
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congested and filled with sero-san guinolent fluid rich in bacilli. The
pia mater may be more or less vividly congested, whilst at times may
be seen a veritable apoplexy with hæmorrhage at the surface of the
brain, the vessels of which are filled with muddy blood. The bacilli are
found in the blood in the excreted materials which are sanguinolent, in
the lesions of all the tissues and organs : they are more particularly
abundant in the capillaries of the tissues or organs which are the seat of
the congestions, ecchymoses, spots, etc., in the spleen, ganglia, liver,
gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, etc., when these organs are mani-
festly altered.
Lesions obserevd in small Ruminants dead of Splenic Apop-
lexy.—The lesions generally found in the sheep and goat dead of spon-
taneous charbon may be stated in the following manner.
Rapid decomposition of the cadaver, which quickly becomes inflated
with gas; flow of blood from the mouth, nose, and anus; ecchymoses of
the skin, subcutaneous connective tissue, ganglia glands, intestinal
mucous membrane, spleen, which is generally hypertrophied, kidneys,
respiratory mucous membrane, lung and brain, distension of the capil-
laries of various organs which are more or less hypertrophied, hæmor-
rhages on to the respiratory mucous membrane; the digestive mucous
membrane, pelvis of the kidney, bladder, and consequent admixture
of blood with the excretions; hæmorrhages into the cellular tissue,
ganglia, lungs, spleen, kidneys, etc., and alteration of the blood, which
is black, tarry, and incoagulable.
The lesions of splenic apoplexy are more disseminated, numerous,
and more marked in animals of two or three years of age and in those
which are in good condition; they are slighter and less numerous in
young animals, old animals, and in those which are in bad condition,—
in those, in a word, which have succumbed more rapidly. We find
again notable differences in individuals; in such cadavers we find more
particularly the spleen and kidneys altered; in others it is the digestive
mucous membrane, that of the abomasum and intestine; in others the
respiratory organs, etc.
Lesions in Bovines dead of Spontaneous Charbonous Fever.—
The lesions of charbonous fever in the large ruminants much re-
semble those of splenic apoplexy in sheep: rapid decomposition of the
cadaver; flow of sanguinolent material from the nose and anus; alter-
ation of the blood, which is black and muddy; congestion, infiltration,
ecchymoses, and he morrhages into the subcutaneous connective
tissue ; ganglia n tne tissue surrounding the throat, abomasum, intes-
tine ; spleen, which is often hypertrophied; kidneys, bladder, serous
membranes, etc., etc.
C 2
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Lesions in Solipeds dead of Spontaneous Charbonous Fever.-
In horses dead of charbon we observe, as in the large ruminants,
black coloration of the blood, ecchymoses on the various organs, infiltra-
tions, vascular ruptures, and hæmorrhages into the majority of the
tissues, the subcutaneous connective tissue, peritoneum, intestinal walls,
pericardium, heart, endocardium, ganglia ; tumefaction, congestion, and
infiltration of the lymphatic system ; œdema of various organs and
regions, etc., etc.
Causes of charbon.—Charbon is a contagious, virulent, trans-
missible, inoculable malady, as has been decided by experiment.
Its appearance and development are due to a micro-organism which is
called the "Bacteridium of Davaine" or the "Bacillus anthracis."
From time immemorial charbon has been seen in various countries
as an enzootic affection, and numerous observations have been made at
various times of its characters, course, and development. It has been
remarked that it resides permanently in certain regions and in certain
localities; we have recognized certain places, grazing grounds, as
being particularly dangerous, and that the malady ceased its ravages
when the flocks or herds were moved to other not dangerous grazing
grounds. We have seen the malady exercise its ravages sometimes in
very limited regions,—in certain stables, for instance,—without showing
itself in the immediate neighbourhood. We have observed it as being
more frequent in very wet years, also in hot and humid climates, on
marshes, etc. It has been demonstrated that splenic apoplexy is trans-
missible from sheep to sheep, from sheep to horse, cow, rabbit, etc. That
charbonous fever of the horse is transmissible to the horse and from
horse to sheep; that the disease in the cow may be given to the sheep
and charbonous fever of the horse to the rabbit; also that charbonous
fever in animals is identical with malignant pustule in man; that the
virulence of the disease does not become lessened by successive trans-
missions; also that the sheep, rabbit, and horse are more susceptible than
the ox; that the virulence may persist for some time after death of the
animal; that the disease may be transmitted by transfusion, inoculation,
contagion, and exceptionally by cohabitation.
Nature of the Contagium of Charbon.—In the year 1850, Rayer
and Davaine observed, for the first time, the presence of batonnets of a
particular kind in the blood of charbonous animals. Similar batonnets
were afterwards observed and described by Pollender, who ascertained
their resistance to the action of acids and bases, and their coloration by
iodine ; also by Brauell, who observed besides that the blood of the fœtus
whose mother had died of charbon, did not possess any virulent properties.
The rôle played by these " batonnets " was not demonstrated, nor even
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suspected by Davaine, Pollender, and Brauell; but the latter, however
had considered their presence as a proof of the existence of charbon
Pollender very exactly describe the bacillus of charbon, its length,
breadth, and its presence in the disease. He compared it to vibriones,
and considered it to belong to the vegetable kingdom (Cornil and Babes).
Brauell described this bacillus in charbon affecting man (Virchows Arch-
ives, 1857). Delafond, in the year 1860, in his turn observed the bacillus
in charbonous blood, and he had observed it both in the spontaneous
and in the inoculated disease. He found them in the blood some hours
before death, and he recognized the fact that they become rapidly very
abundant during the last moments of life. He found them in consi-
derable numbers in the ganglia adjacent to the point of inoculation;
he remarked that the bacilli, imprisoned by the fibrin, become rare in
the serum after death, and he indicated the method of finding them
in the clot by breaking it up.
Delafond had finally suspected the nature and rôle played by the
batonnets discovered by Davaine; he regarded them as vegetable crypto-
gams, as plantules susceptible to be transformed into mycelium; he
tried to cultivate them, and saw that they lengthened, doubling, treb-
ling, and quadrupling their length; he considered them capable of form-
ing spores, a property which did not become experimentally verified
until 1876, when Koch accomplished it.
Pasteur having in 1861 demonstrated that butyric fermentation was
determined by a bacillus, Davaine returned to his observations of
1880, and asked himself whether the bacillus discovered by him in
charbonous blood might not be the pathogenic agent of the malady. He
endeavoured to demonstrate its rôle by various experiments. He in-
oculated rabbits and guinea-pigs with charbonous blood, and took from
these inoculated animals, at longer and larger intervals from the time of
inoculation, droplets of blood which he studied microscopically, and
which he used for further inoculations. In this manner he found that
so long as the blood did not contain the bacilli it remained inactive in the
production of the disease, but when the bacilli made their appearance in the
blood, some hours before death it became virulent and inoculable. These
experiments, repeated a number of times, gave the same results, and led
to the conclusion that the bacillus, to which he had given the name
"Bacteridie," was the agent by which the transmission of the disease
was accomplished. Davaine also observed the multiplication of the
bacillus in the blood of inoculated animals; he observed that the mani-
festation of the disease coincided with the multiplication of the bac-
teridium, and that the blood of inoculated animals only became virulent
at the moment when it presented bacilli.
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Davaine bad recourse to another method of demonstration; he
endeavoured to isolate the bacilli, to obtain blood deprived of them;
for this purpose he had recourse to the inoculation of females during
the period of gestation. Before him Brauell had observed that the
blood of the fœtus, contained in the womb of a charbonous female, did
not contain the bacilli, and that, consequently, charbon was not trans-
missible through the placenta. Davaine, profiting by the knowledge of
this fact, inoculated pregnant rabbits and gave them charbon. A com-
parative examination of the blood of the mother and that of the fœtus
revealed the presence of the bacillus in the former and its absence
in the latter ; the blood of the mother was virulent when inoculated, that
of the fœtus was not.
Thanks to these two sets of experiments, Davaine, who had besides
found that dried charbonous blood was capable of preserving its viru-
lence, concluded that the bacillus was the sole agent in the genesis and
the transmission of charbon.
The observations of Davaine, however, left much to be desired, and
gave rise to much discussion for a long time. In the drop of charbon-
ous blood inoculated there existed various elements, such as red corpus-
cles, white globules, bacilli, granular matter, liquid substances, to which
some action might be attributed; and it did not seem correct, under
these circumstances, to refer all the changes to the bacillus, In addition
to this, not having conceived the mode of reproduction of the bacillus
to be by the formation of spores capable of preserving their virulence
for a long time, after which they could germinate and reproduce the
bacillus and under favourable circumstances determine the same
malady, Davaine found it to be impossible to explain certain facts and
to reply to the arguments and objections of his adversaries. How, for
instance, could it be conceived that a charbonous cadaver was able to
preserve its virulence for several weeks, and even a longer time, after
death, seeing that the adult virus under the form of the bacillus
or rod was not preserved, and could not be found in old carcases? It
was impossible to explain how and why charbonous cadavers might
remain dangerous for months or even years. Here was a fact, not to be
explained by the new theory of Davaine, but which was easily explained
later on by the knowledge of the faculty of the bacillus to form very
resistant spores.
In the meantime, Davain and Raimbert had met with the bacillus
in malignant pustule in man, and had caused charbon by inoculat-
ing serum taken from the pustule. But the bacillus continued to
be regarded as an epiphenomenon of charbon and not as the morbific
agent.
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Jaillard and Leplat obtained a malady which killed, in the same
manner as charbon, but without bacilli, by inoculating charbonous blood
taken from a cadaver in course of putrefaction which did not present
bacilli in rods; and they concluded that the rod could not be consi-
dered as the morbific agent of charbon. Davaine then distinguished
charbon due to rods (bacteridia) and the pretented or so-called charbon
without bacteridia, to which he gave the name of "maladie dela vache;"
he considered the latter to be a special malady, of a septic nature, killing
more quickly than charbon and inoculable to birds.— (Comptes rendus
de l'Academie des Sciences, 1864 to 1873.)
The facts opposed to the theory of Davaine are easily explained
to-day; the bacilli may produce spores under certain conditions, before
their destruction in the cadavers. On the other hand, the bacteria of
putrefaction, which are found in the digestive passages, very promptly
invade the various parts of the cadaver and likewise form spores. Also
in examining charbonous blood taken from a cadaver in course of putre-
faction, we may observe neither the rods of charbon nor septic bacteria
nor vibriones on account of their extreme refractility; in addition to
which we do not distinguish, by microscopical examination, the spores of
one bacterium from those of another. It occasionally happens that the
germs of charbon and septic germs are inoculated together; it is
generally septicæmia which develops under these circumstances, and
consequently the rods of charbon do not appear in the blood. If
the spores develop, producing charbon, we obtain the bacilli without
having inoculated the rods. If, then, charbonous cadavers remain viru-
lent for a long time in the soil, it is because the bacilli, before disappear-
ing, form spores which are very resistant. In addition to this, it is not
only the charbonous blood which becomes rapidly septic after death ;
that of animals dead of other diseases becomes so after a few hours.
Brauell considered the bacillus as the diagnostic criterium of char-
bon, but he did not regard it as the cause of the malady; he recognized
in 1865 that the pig was refractory to inoculation.
Luton in 1869 found, as Davaine had found, that dried charbonous
blood retained its virulence.
Baillet observed a bacillus in the blood of all animals dead of "Mal
de Montagne," which was recognized as charbonous by a Commission
which was sent into the Cantal and the Puy de Dôme to study it. He
supposed that the bacteridia or their germs, owing to the custom which
prevailed of burying the animals in shallow graves in the pastures, lived
on the soil and plants and were introduced with the forage.
In 1871, Klebs and Tiegel, having filtered charbonous blood through
a clay filter, found that the plasma obtained without rods was not