Transactions of The Royal Society of Canada 



SECTION IV 

 Series III SEPTEMBER 1915 Vol. IX 



On the Resistance of B. Anthracis Spores to High Temperature. 

 By R. H. Malone and E. Shanly. 



Presented by Dr. J. G. Adami, F.R.S.C. 

 (Read May Meeting, 1915). 



In order to test the results obtained by one of us in observations 

 recorded in the preceding article, it seemed serviceable to study the 

 heat resistance not of a number of various species, but of several dif- 

 ferent strains of one spore-bearing species, thereby determining whether 

 the temperature of spore destruction is a specific character or whether, 

 as the results previously obtained seemed to indicate, the temperature 

 of such spore destruction is a variable. 



For this purpose B. Anthracis appeared to us the most suitable 

 species, and that for several reasons: 



(1) This has been employed as a stock species for testing the 

 value of disinfectants. 



(2). It is a form which through its pathogenic and growth 

 properties is easily distinguished, and 



(3) There is little difficulty in obtaining strains from different 

 sources. 



We have obtained cultures answering in their cardinal properties 

 to B. Anthracis from the following sources: 



I. From the American Natural History Museum through the 

 courtesy of Prof. Winslow, 4 strains, labelled respectively 107; 108; 

 109; 316. 



II. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 7 strains labelled 

 Burt; Boerner; Borden mule, Falfurias, 6087; 6071; and Davis. 



III. The McGill Pathological Laboratory, stock culture 2 

 strains, O.S.d; O.S.C.2 



IV. McGill University Department of Hygiene, 1 strain, H. L. 

 In all, 14 strains. It is quite possible that certain of these may be of 

 common origin. 



Of these fourteen strains it deserves note that in every case the 

 growth upon agar was abundant, raised, glistening, greyish-white or 



Sec. IV, 1915—6 



