278 



Profs. Percy Frankland and Marshall Ward. 



On comparing the Tahles D (I) and D (II), we see that the 

 water forms pass through the usual stages of rapid rise in numbers 

 during the first two or three days, followed by a relapse to fewer 

 and fewer; but it is suggestive that the enfeebled "asporogene" 

 anthrax seemed to disappear more rapidly from the plates — 

 Table D (II). This rapid disappearance did not occur where the 

 water was sterilised by filtration, however, as Table D (III) shows, 

 and I was for some time inclined to attribute this to the influence 

 of the normal aquatic bacteria. It may still turn out to be so, but 

 my experiments on p. 290 do not support the idea, and our confidence 

 being shaken in the character of the " asporogene " anthrax used, I do 

 not press the point, but hope to raise the question in another form at 

 a later date. 



The evidence goes to show, then, that Bacillus anthracis, while only 

 capable of living for a short time in the Thames water in the vegetative 

 state, is able to persist very much longer in the form of spores. 



Bacteriological Examination of some Old Culture Flasks. 

 On October 6, it was decided to analyse the contents of five flasks, 

 selected from a series which had been put aside for this purpose on 

 the 5th March previous. The analysis of these five flasks is very 

 interesting. 



The flasks were labelled A, B, B', C, and D, and had been treated 

 in various ways,' as described below. 



A was a litre flask, which on March 5 had been charged with about 

 GOO c.c. of fresh Thames water, inoculated with a comparatively large 

 dose (10 c.c.) of the same water, in which a vigorous potato culture 

 of anthrax had been shaken up. The culture used was known to 

 contain spores, and a good deal of starch had also been carried over. 



The flask stood during the whole of the period (spring and summer) 

 cnier a glass bell- jar, on a table near a north window, and received 

 no direct sunlight, but ordinary bright daylight every day. 



It was occasionally opened (the cotton-wool plug being carefully 

 and quickly removed and replaced each time), to remove samples for 

 analysis. 



The temperature rarely fell below 12° C, or rose beyond 15° C, and 

 a slight growth of green microscopic alga? made its appearance during 

 the summer. 



On October 6 cultures were made (1) direct from the flask (2) 

 from same after exposure to 56° C. for 24 hours. 



The direct cultures on gelatine gave plenty of bacteria, &c, but if 

 any anthrax was there it was overwhelmed by the alien forms, or 

 w T ould not grow. 



The cultures, after exposure at 56° C, gave no results on gelatine, 

 but animals inoculated with 2 c.c. died in five days of anthrax. 



