THE BACILLUS OF COUGHING 21 



a bacillus very like the Klebs-Loffler bacillus, 

 which causes diphtheria in mankind. 



Recent experiments proved that this 

 bacillus lives for many months in dry dust 

 in dark stables, but dies very quickly if left 

 in the light. The same bacillus was found 

 in the crusts of bran round the feeding- 

 pots, and on the bridles of sickening horses. 

 Direct sunlight killed it at once, and fresh 

 air inhibited its growth.-^ I am trying to 



1 I had intended publishing at the end of this little 

 volume the full notes on the bacteriology of coughing 

 in horses, and the isolation of the colonies of the many 

 micro-organisms obtained from the discharge taken 

 from horses suffering from cough, with notes on the 

 culture of some of these and the effect of their in- 

 oculations into other animals. This research, however, 

 not yet being complete enough to prove to demon- 

 stration which of the organisms found is the cause 

 and origin of the mischief, investigations are being 

 continued in this direction, and will be subsequently 

 published. The bacillus to which I refer above was 

 found in all cases of coughing taken from horses in 

 the early days of the disease, and an identical bacillus 

 has been isolated from the many found round all 

 neglected mangers or feeding-pots, so that although 

 the third condition of bacteriological proof has not yet 

 been fulfilled, I have no doubt whatever as to the true 

 cause of the disease. — F. M. 



