ANTHRAX AND ANTHRACOID DISEASES. 



157 



identified as bacteria. Woronin, for example, in 1866, examined 

 the root tubers of Lupinus tnutabilus, and found the rod-like 

 bacteria present in considerable numbers. Eriksson investigated 

 the matter further in 1874, and found in the tubers long tubular 

 structures, which he considered to be the hj^Dhse of a fungus ; 

 and he described the bacteria described by Woronin as nothing 

 but detached parts of the hyphag. 



Fig. 4. — • Blood corpuscles. | Bacilli of various lengths, but about -j^j^^j-^ inch 

 in diameter. These bacilli seem to differ from those of splenic fever, being 

 rather smaller in diameter, and, so far as my observations go, multiply by fission 

 only, not developing spores. This, however, requires confirmation, x 400. 



The tubers themselves in which these hyphse and bacteria 

 occur have been considered by some as diseased outgrowths 

 caused by the pressure of the fungi, but others have regarded 

 them as peculiar modifications of adventitious roots, in which 

 the fungi have taken up their abode. Water culture experi- 

 ments have been made to determine whether these tuberous 

 growths are caused by the fungus or not, and it was found that 

 plants (red clover being selected) growing in solutions rich in 

 nitrogenous substances developed little or none of the tuberous 

 growths, whereas those growing in solutions containing the 

 least amount of nitrogenous matters developed numerous tubers. 

 Whether these tubers were developed or not, the bacteria were 

 still present. Whether we look upon the tubers as normal 

 outgrowths or pathological phenomena, we are forced to the 

 conclusion, from the history, invasion, and progress of the 

 disease in animals, that the bacteria, whether existent in the 

 plants, or merely contained, as we suppose, in the dust, have 



