MICROBIAL DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS. 603 



excrement, and thus spread the disease. Blood-sucking flies may also 

 be instrumental in transferring the bacterium from one animal to another. 



Season is a contributing factor. In years in which the spring floods 

 have been very high, followed by a hot dry season, anthrax is most prev- 

 alent. 



There are a few preliminary symptoms; there is usually sudden loss 

 of appetite, trembling and convulsive movements. Often blood is seen 

 in urine or feces or discharged from the nose. The mucous membranes 

 are often bluish in color, and boils or pustules may occur on various 

 parts of the body. Death in cattle occurs in two to five days and in 

 sheep in twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The mortality is high and 

 intestinal cases are fatal in 80 to 90 per cent of the animals attacked. 



The usual post-mortem appearances are enlargement of the spleen, 

 blood thick and tarry, bloody extravasations in the muscles and organs, 

 and bloody fluids escaping from mouth, nostrils or anus. 



In anthrax-infected districts vaccination should be used. The vac- 

 cines are prepared by cultivating the bacterium at a high temperature- 

 42 to 43 thus forming an asporogenous race, according to methods 

 devised by Pasteur in 1881 (p. 476). Two vaccines are often used, the 

 first of very low virulence, the second more virulent. Between 1882 and 

 1907, 8,000,000 sheep and 1,300,000 cattle have been vaccinated in 

 France against anthrax, with excellent results. Vaccination by toxin 

 has been advocated by Toussiant, Hawkin, Marmier and. others, but 

 this method has not had the success of that described above. 



For treatment of the disease in man, Sclavo's serum has been of 

 considerable benefit. This serum is obtained from the sheep or ass. 

 The animals first receive the two vaccines of Pasteur, then more virulent 

 cultures in gradually increasing doses. A serum is then obtained which 

 in a dose of 2 c.c. or less protects a rabbit against a lethal dose of the 

 anthrax organism. 



Animals dead of anthrax should never be opened or skinned. If doubt 

 exists as to the nature of the disease, an ear may be cut off and sent to 

 to a laboratory for examination. Anthrax-infected carcasses may be either 

 burned or buried at a depth of 1.8 M. (6 feet), and covered with quick-lime, 

 and as an extra precaution the burial ground may be fenced off. The 

 prime necessity is to prevent the formation of spores, as it has been 

 shown experimentally that they remain in this condition for eighteen 

 years and produce the disease when inoculated. Soiled litter, forage 



