INCIDENCE OF ANTHRAX IN STOCK IN AUSTRALIA. 57 
outbreaks in New South Wales and 25 outbreaks in Victoria, 
that is to say in about half the total number of outbreaks 
recorded. In the 32 outbreaks in New South Wales, 469 
animals died, an average of 14°65 per outbreak, the maxi- 
mum number being 100, and the minimum 1. In the 25 
outbreaks in Victoria 88 animals died, an average of 3°52 
per outbreak, the maximum number being 14 and the mini- 
mum 1. These outbreaks are in no way selected ones, but 
quite typical of the whole number. During the same period 
the mortality for the rest of Australia was quite negligible. 
It is evident that the mortality has been much exaggerated. 
Possible sources of confusion as to the extent of Mortality. 
It may well be asked whether there is any justification 
for the somewhat suspicious attitude adopted regarding 
the reliability of records of mortality due to Anthrax. Loir 
in 1891 pointed out that mortality caused by Anthrax was 
imputed to poisonous plants; no doubt that was correct, 
but on the other hand the converse was equally correct, 
and a careful study of the reports and records will make 
it plain that mortality which is now known not to be due 
to Anthrax, and which is due to the toxic effects of plants, 
was up to quite recently (i.e., ten years ago) regarded as 
unquestionably due to Anthrax, The fact of cyanogenesis 
in plants was not then understood, and as prussic acid 
poisoning is responsible for very heavy mortality on certain 
areas and at certain seasons, these deaths were invariably 
attributed to Anthrax. On the banks of the Macquarie, 
Namoi, and other rivers in what was then held to be Anthrax 
infected country, there were, and have been for many 
years, small areas of country over which stock can only be 
travelled with much risk in certain seasons. There have 
been within the last few years instances of several hundred 
animals dying inasinglenight. Analysis of the blue couch, 
(Cynodon incompletus) which is particularly to be found in 
