54 
r>. McEACHRAN. 
furnish useful indications in researches undertaken to fix the 
character, <fcc. of the latter. As these marsh bacilli, so like those 
of anthrax, are developed, multiply and infest damp, hot and 
maishy pastuies, it is admitted as probable that the same happens 
with the anthrax bacteria, and that the white mucilaginous masses 
before mentioned, should be suspected as masses of the latter un¬ 
til there is proof to the contrary. 
Doubtless the experiments of Feser were suggested by the 
fact that in Bavaria and elsewhere in Europe, as in this country, 
in years in which smut is prevalent in the grasses and grains, 
anthrax is more common in cattle. This has been more especially 
observable during the past summer (1878), both in Canada and the 
United States, a great deal of the corn and wheat damaged by 
smut and rust fungus, concurrent with which was anthrax, has 
been usually prevalent. 
It is reassuring, however, to know that Feser’s experiments 
agree with my own observations, and the testimony of experienced 
stock raisers in all parts of . the country, that smutty corn in the 
great majority of the instances can be eaten with impunity by 
cattle and sheep ; this, however, does not preclude the possibility 
that the conditions which favor the development of smut, rust and 
vegetable spores may also favor the development of the bacillus 
anthricis, and that they may be conveyed to the animals in the 
hay, corn, other food or water. 
Unquestionably, as remarked by Bollinger, “ the most active 
carriers of the poison of anthrax are the diseased and dead ani- 
nnds in all their parts. Most frequently the fluids of diseased and 
dead animals are to be blamed, blood from blood-letting, blood 
which in the slaughtering, cutting up and burying of animals, ad¬ 
heres to everything it touches and quickly dries up, then the hides, 
hair, bristles, hoofs, bones, flesh, secretions, excretions—especially 
the excrement, all these are to be feared as vehicles of conta¬ 
gion.” 
The popular opinion which is universal in this and has existed 
for centuries in this and older countries, that flies during hot 
weather were active agents in disseminating the poison by feeding 
on the anthracoid carcass and inoculating both men and animals, 
