648 Inoculation for Prevention of Anthrax, [nov., 



in some instances, owing to causes at present unknown, the 

 disease is arrested in its preliminary stage. 



Winter-rot in past years has usually manifested itself in 

 pits of stored potatoes, and been but rarely noticed in the 

 autumn. Now, however, it is unfortunately too abundant at 

 the time when the crop is lifted. The unmistakable indica- 

 tions of winter-rot at the time of lifting are the existence of 

 damp, sodden patches of a dark colour on the surface of the 

 otherwise dry, light-coloured tuber. If the disease is at all 

 advanced, the surface of the tuber becomes cracked over the 

 damp areas, and the flesh of the tuber presents a water-logged 

 appearance, and shows rusty patches. As the disease pro- 

 gresses a very offensive smell develops. 



Quite recently Mr. Home* has announced in a preliminary 

 note the constant presence of an obscure organism accom- 

 panying "internal disease " in potatoes. The further develop- 

 ment of this subject will be awaited with interest. 



The Pasteur method of preventive inoculation has ren- 

 dered great service in preserving stock on badly infected 

 farms in various parts of the world. 

 Inoculation for The method consists in injecting the 



the Prevention of animals with fixed doses of attenuated 

 Anthrax. cultures of the Bacillus anthracis. Two 



injections at intervals of twelve days 

 are performed. For the first injection a very attenuated cul- 

 ture is used (first vaccin), and for the second a less attenuated 

 culture (second vaccin) is employed. The immunity is estab- 

 lished about twelve to fifteen days after the second vaccin 

 has been injected. In cattle it lasts about a year, and 

 should be repeated after this period unless the ground has 

 become purified. The great majority of cattle operated on 

 show little more than a temporary indisposition with passing 

 fever after the injection, which may be assumed to indicate 

 a mild attack of anthrax. Occasionally, however, an inocu- 

 lated animal may die of the disease as the result of the 

 injection, and for this reason the animals, while undergoing 

 the process of immunisation, should be kept in a special 

 paddock, or, better still, in sheds which can be disinfected 



* Home, A. 3., Ann. My col. Vol. VII., pp. 286-288, 1909. 



