58 MAX HENRY. 
these areas, has shown the presence of hydrocyanic acid. 
Tbe records make it very clear that in the past such mor- 
talities were ascribed to Anthrax. In other instances. 
tympanites amongst hungry travelling stock was also 
described as Anthrax. 
On the other hand some at least of the mortality ascribed 
to feeding on Euphorbia Drummondii probably was really 
Anthrax. 
Source of infection of Anthrax in Australia. 
It has been widely held that the source of infection in 
Anthrax was the soil contaminated by the blood of a pre- 
vious case, but as regards the disease in England, Stockman 
has put forward reasonable evidence to show that infected 
food material introduced from abroad, was responsible for 
the majority of outbreaks, whilst elsewhere infected bone 
dust was looked upon as a serious factor. The conditions 
under which stock are kept in most of the Anthrax infected 
areas in Australia enable it to be laid down with certainty 
that soil infection is responsible for the continuance of the 
disease in this country. The stock in the areas referred to 
are all grazed, only in times of severe drought is any food, 
other than what they pick up, supplied to them, and such 
drought periods are notin any wayassociated with Anthrax, 
moreover the constant localisation of the disease would be 
impossible if infection were carried by the food. The use 
of artificial manures such as bonedust was unknown in the 
Anthrax belt when the disease was at its height, and 
though possibly they may be utilised to some slight extent 
now, that increase in use would be coincident with the 
decrease in Anthrax. As noted, it was held with regard to: 
one case in Tasmania, that bonedust was the infecting agent, 
but such a cause must be altogether exceptional. Again, the 
localisation of the disease would negative such a theory. 
This explains the reason why the veterinary authorities. 

