His discoveries teach the reader about the virus and help him gain a greater perspective on its actions. The first piece of information found is that the virus transmits through the air. To rule out a gas, filters were used in between a dead rat with the virus surrounding it, and a live one. With the size determined, the next step was simple-to determine whether dead animals were potentially infectious. After pumping the air out of the dead rat' s cage and replacing it with clean air, Burton connects the cage to one with a live rat.
Nothing happens, and another important fact is learned.
Corpses could not transmit the disease, only the bugs themselves. Earlier in the story, Leavitt and Stone discover that the people die from instant blood clotting. Burton's job is to find out how the organism gets into the body. He knows that the clotting will most likely intitiate at the point of entrance into the body. If the skin, the surface would clot first.