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BACTERIOLOGY. 
The Micrococcus Melitensis (Malta Fever). 
Malta fever occurs among the people living on 
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in some parts of 
South America, and in the West Indies. It is similar 
to typhoid fever, but is not so severe, and the mortality 
rate is not so high. The Micrococcus melitensis, the 
cause of the infection, is readily cultivated on the ordi¬ 
nary laboratory culture media and stains easily. It 
appears under the microscope in groups and short 
chains. The infection is spread in the milk of goats, 
which is the chief source of the milk-supply in Malta, 
and probably by the mosquito. 
Patients sick with Malta fever develop in their 
blood agglutinins for the micrococcus, which may be 
utilized in detecting the disease. The use of vaccines 
made from killed cultures of the micrococcus has been 
attended with good results. 
The Bacillus of Anthrax. 
Anthrax is primarily a disease of cattle and sheep, 
although horses, dogs, and goats are susceptible. The 
infection is usually transmitted directly to man from 
infected hides or wool. The disease has existed chiefly 
in Europe until recently. During the training of the 
Army both in this country and in England numerous 
infections occurred from the use of infected shaving 
brushes. On account of the great demand for shaving 
brushes by the army, bristles were imported from 
China which were not properly disinfected. Anthrax 
