BACTERIA AND ICE 159 



developments, their application rendering possible 

 the transport from and to all parts of the world 

 of valuable but perishable foodstuffs, thus en- 

 couraging local industries by opening up markets, 

 and bringing prosperity to countries and com- 

 munities which before were seeking in vain an 

 outlet for their surplus produce. 



The application of cold storage for preservation 

 purposes is, however, no novelty ; for nature ages 

 ago set us the example, and of this we have been 

 lately reminded afresh by the discovery announced 

 by Dr. Herz of a mammoth in Siberia, which, 

 despite the thousands of years which have elapsed 

 since it was originally overwhelmed and frozen, 

 is described as being in a marvellous state of 

 preservation. 



Thus we are told that " most of the hair on the 

 body had been scraped away by ice, but its mane 

 and near foreleg were in perfect preservation and 

 covered with long hair. The hair of the mane 

 was from four to five inches long, and of a 

 yellowish brown colour, while its left leg was 

 covered with black hair. In its stomach was 

 found a quantity of undigested food, and on its 

 tongue was the herbage which it had been eating 

 when it died. This was quite green." 



Considering that certainly more than eight 

 thousand years had elapsed since this creature 



