248 ON FEVERS AMONGST HORSES, CATTLE, ETC. 



from the trough and pasture, spreads confusion and dismay 

 throughout many of the crack tiocks of whole districts. In hot 

 seasons also there is a great tendency for the development of 

 anthrax through the dryness of the ground, especially in marshy 

 countries and on moist ground heavily manured, such as reten- 

 tive clays, or other heavy soils lying on solid substrata which do 

 not admit of the infiltration of water. Excessive heat favours in 

 a high degree the decomposition of substances upon or near the 

 surface, and their admixture with the food ensures the contami- 

 nation of the blood, from which charbonous states are most likely 

 to become not only prevalent, but dangerous through inoculation 

 to other animals, and also human beings. The low lands of 

 Lincolnshire, in the writer's recollection, have suffered more than 

 once from visitations of this kind. 



Si/stcm of Cidtivatioii. — As the production of anthrax is mainly 

 due to the richness of the food allowed, it is quite possible, we 

 believe, by the application of artificial or other manures, to bring 

 about such states in the soil as to entirely alter the character of 

 the vegetation growing upon it, or, in more precise words, the 

 food under heavy manuring acquires a higher nutritive value as 

 well as being produced in greater quantity, and thus anthrax 

 diseases may be generated where they have not hitherto been 

 seen. This has been the result in several instances, and changes 

 from artificial to farm-yard manures produce no mitigation of 

 the effects. Under these conditions, that form known as splenic 

 apoplexy is generated both among cattle and sheep, appearing 

 suddenly and proving rapidly fatal to all that are attacked, few 

 indeed escaping. 



Ventilation and Drainage. — The want of pure air under all 

 circumstances is a great obstruction to the healthy functions of 

 animals, but combined influences are necessary for the production 

 of anthrax fever through the agency of ill ventilation. That form 

 most observed as a result of an impure atmosphere occurs chiefly 

 among pigs, and is known as "typhoid fever," "red soldier," 

 '■ cyanosis," and " blue disease." Close and ill-ventilated styes 

 ere fruitful sources when coupled with those conditions. Sewage 

 gases find their way into the sleeping apartments, or the drainage 

 of sewers becomes admixed with the wash supplied to the 

 animals. Some years ago the attention of the Miiter was drawn 

 to a large number of pigs suftering from this form of complaint, 

 and after a careful investigation, it was ascertained that in the 

 rentre of each of the sleeping apartments of a newly-erected 

 series of styes there was a drain guarded only by a simple 

 grating. The straw for bedding was laid over this, and doubtless 

 assisted very largely in diffusing the ascending miasmatic gases 

 througliout the area. All the pigs were more or less affected, 

 tlie worst dying within a few hours after being visited. The 



