 In 1863 Davaine demonstrated that the bacillus could be directly transmitted from one animal to another.He was able to identify the causative organism, but was unaware of its true etiology.Later on, German microbiologist Robert Koch investigated the etiology of "Bacillus anthracis", and discovered its ability to produce "resting spores" that could stay alive in the soil for a long period of time to serve as a future source of infection.