176 
VERANUS A. MOORE. 
fore I had extended its study sufficiently to positively identify 
it, and before the first results with disinfectants and the ther¬ 
mal death point had been verified. It agrees very closely with 
the description of streptococcus pyogenes bovis Lucet * with 
the exception that it is more virulent for experimental animals. 
This, however, cannot be considered of very much importance. 
Further, I have not been able to find distinctive characters or 
properties to differentiate it from streptococcus pyogenes. Addi¬ 
tional investigations will be necessary to show that the strepto¬ 
cocci producing suppuration in cattle and in man are separated 
by specific or veriatal differences. 
Source of Infection .—Although this disease appeared to be 
of much importance in its beginning its early disappearance 
quieted the fear that the locality was invaded with a “ conta¬ 
gious foot rot ” and attention was directed to an inquiry into 
the source and manner of infection. Concerning tliis positive 
information was not secured. However, a few important con¬ 
ditions affecting the immediate environment of the animals were 
found to have been so closely associated with the trouble that 
they are quite suggestive. The cattle in the herds where 
the disease appeared were driven a considerable distance morn¬ 
ing and evening through paths which were very muddy. As 
would be expected, the mud was heavily laden with fecal and 
decomposing vegetable matter. It was thickly sprinkled with 
stone of a flat, sharp, angular variety. It is presumable that 
the animals in wading through these places scratched their feet 
or legs slightly but enough to cause the infection of the organ¬ 
ism which it is assumed was in the top' soil. It was a note¬ 
worthy observation that the disease begun with a “ rainy spell,” 
and consequently muddy paths and yards, and disappeared after 
the mud dried up. Previous investigationsf have shown that deli¬ 
cate streptococci are sometimes present in the soil. The numer¬ 
ous recorded observations on this group of bacteria show that 
streptococci are not only widely distributed in nature, but also 
* Annales de L’Institut Pasteur, VII (1893), p. 324. 
f Bulletins No. 3 Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1893. 
