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of B. antliracis as one might expect. Specimens of M. 
domestica were also given access to the carcase of an ox 
which had died of anthrax ; they all subsequently caused 
growths of the anthrax bacillus on agar. I entirely agree 
with Nuttall, who says: “It does seem high time, though, 
after nearly a century and a half of discussion, to see what 
would be the result of properly carried out experiments. 
That ordinary flies (M. domestica and the like) may carry 
about and deposit the bacillus of anthrax in their excrements, 
or cause infection through their soiled exterior coming in 
contact with wounded surfaces or food, may be accepted as 
proven in view of the experimental evidence already pre- 
sented.” 
3. Cholera. 
One of the first to suggest that flies may disseminate the 
cholera spirillum was Nicholas (1873), who, in an interesting 
and prophetic letter, said : “ In 1849, on an occasion of going 
through the wards of the Malta Hospital, where a large 
amount of Asiatic cholera was under treatment, my first 
impression of the possibilty of the transfer of the disease by 
flies was derived from the observation of the manner in which 
these voracious creatures, present in great numbers, and 
having equal access to the dejections and food of the patients, 
gorged themselves indiscriminately, and then disgorged 
themselves on the food and drinking utensils. In 1850 the 
‘ Superb,’ in common with the rest of the Mediterranean 
squadron, was at sea for nearly six months; during the 
greater part of the time she had cholera on board. On 
putting to sea the flies were in great force, but after a time 
the flies gradually disappeared and the epidemic slowly sub- 
sided. On going into Malta Harbour, but without com- 
municating with the shore, the flies returned in greater 
force, and the cholera also with increased violence. After 
more cruising at sea the flies disappeared gradually, with the 
subsidence of the disease. In the cholera years of 1854 and 
1866 in this country the periods of occurrence and disappear- 
