Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1895 — The Hay Bicillus. [ARTICLE]

The Hay Bicillus.

One of the latest discoveries in the bacilli kingdom is the “hay bacillus,” found guilty of what has hitherto been called the “spontaneous combustion” of improperly cured hay. A scientist—who knows all about it, of course—says that the hay bacillus is a minute, ‘ ‘stick-like’’ being, always and everywhere found on grass and hay. When hay is not sufficiently dr} r , the bacilli continue to live on the moisture still present. By their breathing, these mischievous atoms generate heat, and as there are billions on billions of them the heat rises until it reaches 100 degrees C. and more. Then the poor things die. But the mischief goes on. The blades of grass are turned into threads of coal; the coal, condensing the gases developed, increases the heat. Finally, when this transformation has progressed to the surface, a slight draught fans the smouldering mass into flame. In like manner, bacilli of the same genus cause the iirnition of maaurfc iesps.