Prevention of Splenic Fever, §•<?., at the Brown Institution. 291 
For the present I propose to continue these experiments in 
the same direction as those which have already been made, vary- 
ing the conditions in such a way as to determine, if possible, 
the readiest method of inoculation, and that affording the best 
results in conferring protection. If the results hitherto obtained 
should be confirmed, and if I am able to guarantee definite 
effects from material cultivated in the manner which I have 
described, it will be easy to preserve the virus for an almost 
indefinite period, and to send it to any one who is willing to 
extend the sphere of observation by making inoculations and 
watching the results. 
Outbreaks of Anthrax. 
There has been but little information as to outbreaks of the 
disease (splenic apoplexy) ; and in no case have I had any 
opportunity of gaining fresh light upon the etiology of the 
disease. The facts brought to my notice are embodied in the 
following reports of Mr. Banham ; they concern two outbreaks, 
from which the material for the experiments was derived. 
Outbreak near Romford, Essex. — This occurred in October, 
amongst a herd of twenty-five cows and two bulls. The cows 
were turned perfectly healthy into a grass field, the subsoil of 
which is clay. At the lower end of the field is a stream, which 
carries the sewage from a village about a mile distant. The 
cows received no other food, they cannot therefore be said to 
have been highly fed. 
In the first outbreak seven cows died. The two bulls, which 
had been kept in a shed and never been out at all, also died. 
The only possible communication between the cows and the 
bulls were — (1) The cows passed the doors of the place in which 
the bulls were kept. (2) The men who fed the cows often came 
into the bulls' stables. 
The cows were brought up into the homestead, and then 
allowed to remain for two months, when the owner thought they 
might be fairly turned out again. But soon after they had been 
in the grass-field again, two others died. After that they were 
brought to the farm again, and remained there without any 
further loss. 
The second outbreak occurred at the end of December, at 
Alford in Lincolnshire. On Dec. 19, 1879, there were twenty- 
two cows tied up in a shed, and they appeared to be perfectly 
well when fed at 3 P.M. It may be mentioned that they were fed 
on barley, chaff, and straw, tares, hay, mangolds, and linseed- 
cake. At 3.30 one of the cows seemed stupid, and staggered 
U 2 
