in such a way to the stimuli set up, and so successfully, that tolerance is 

 established, and the disease is not of very great moment after the lapse of 

 generations, when by the influence of hereditarily transmitted adaptation, 

 the organisms are powerless for mischief. This subject, however, is replete 

 with so many difficulties at present, and the ground is so untrodden, that 

 reluctantly we must leave it, and pass on. 



In this connection, a few words will shew the dreadful nature of 

 anthrax, and the supreme importance of looking for remedies both 

 curative and preventive of all diseases, which affect man and animals. 

 No one is of greater interest, than that most disastrous scourge, which goes 

 by the name of anthrax. All animals are liable to attack, including birds 

 and even fishes. No clime is exempt from its ravages. In past times, this 

 disease raged as a malignant and destructive epizootic in man and animals. 

 The 17th and i8th centuries were especially remarkable for devastations 

 made by severe outbreaks. In 16 17, the malady was so fatal, that over 

 6o,ooo people died around Naples, from eating the flesh of animals which 

 had died from the effects of these insidious inroads of the Bacilli Anthracis. 

 Anthrax in man is known as woolsorters' disease in this country, and also 

 as the so-called malignant pustule, which is developed as the result of local 

 inoculation, produced by handling the wool of animals which have died from 

 anthrax, or by contact of an absorbed or inflamed surface with a diseased 

 carcase. In Northern Asia, it is known as the Siberian plague. Although it 

 does not frequently affect the horse in this country, anthrax is of common 

 occurrence among the equine tribe as Loodianah disease in Central India. 

 It is well-known in Southern Africa, as the Cape horse sickness ; and also in 

 Australia, where it is called the Cumberland disease ; and in North America 

 and South America. As Texas fever, in the United States, it is of frequent 

 occurrence, and makes severe havoc among the cattle there. According to 

 Toussaint, animals of the value of 20,000,000 francs, die annually of splenic- 

 fever in France. 



In certain districts of England it is not unknown, being greatly dreaded 

 at times by owners of stock, and with good reason. Have any therapeutic 

 measures been found which will stay the growth of germs, and thus prevent 

 the inroads of contagious diseases ? It is well here to state emphatically 

 what we shall have occasion to reiterate as we proceed, viz. : that very much 

 more is known scientifically, than is dreamed of by the populace. Everyday 

 our knowledge grows. Mr. D. Gresswell administered sulphite of sodium 

 extensively as a preventive in cases which were exposed to the infection of 

 anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and cattle plague, and found that this 

 medicine was of great value in the case of the two former diseases, and also 

 of some value in the third. The value of these measures in the case of the 

 first two diseases has been corroborated by ourselves. 



We may here quote a few passages from Finlay Dun's "Veterinary 

 Medicines,"' in order to show our readers what influence this drug has in 

 preventing the development of disease. "Professor Polli, of Milan, made 

 about 300 experiments with the acid sulphite of sodium, mostly upon dogs, 



