Anthrax. 853 



work dout' by Di-. Bull, Demonstrator of Bacteriology at the Mel- 

 bourne University. During the past fifteen montlis some forty-five 

 cases were submitted to him by our Department in various forms for 

 bacteriological examination. These embraced post-mortem specimens 

 and bone meal (Indian), and I am happy to state that many of the 

 cases submitted to him proved not to be anthrax. The result he 

 achieved in tracing an outbreak to be anthrax, and the source from 

 which it sprang, viz., Indian bone meal, has led to the prevention of 

 its dissemination through this medium by an Order-in-Council having" 

 been obtained prohiijiting the importation of Indian bones or meal, 

 unless for the purpose of being converted into superphosphates. 

 Many of the other States of the Commonwealth have since passed a 

 similar regulation, and I am in receipt of a communication from the 

 Stock Department of New Zealand, expressing their appreciation on 

 being apprized of Dr. Bull's research. 



By the promptitude with which this gentleman dealt with the 

 various items sent to him, the fears of stock owners were allayed, or 

 if the necessity arose, immediate measures could be taken to prevent 

 the spread of the disease on receipt of his report, as many obscure 

 cases presented themselves which Avere impossible to woi'k out unless 

 by bacteriological examination by ,a specialist having at his command 

 all the equipments of a laboratory designed for this form of scientific 

 work. 



