QUARTER-ILL. 131 



In some cases the tumour is found in the muscles under the 

 shoulder — in others, in the diaphragm and in many varied situa- 

 tions, but these are rare compared to those found in the loins 

 and withers. 



Disposal of Carcase. — It is the practice, in some parts of 

 England, to slaughter cattle affected with the disease, to prepare 

 them for human food by carefully removing the discoloured 

 portions, and sending the rest of the carcase to market. We 

 are opposed to this, and consider that this disease should be 

 dealt with by the authorities, under the " Anthrax Order " of 

 the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, as the skinning and 

 dressing the carcase is dangerous to human life. 



The blood of an animal affected coagulates readily, and hence 

 is quite different from that of anthrax (splenic fever). 



Cause of the Disease. — The cause of this disease is a germ or 

 minute parasite, which when in connective tissue and outside 

 blood-vessels, propagates itself with wonderful activity, and in 

 so doing causes destruction of the tissues in its neighbourhood, 

 the formation of the tumours, and ultimately death from blood- 

 poisoning. 



This germ is extremely small, and can only be detected by 

 the aid of a microscope. It measures from 3^0^00 "^^^ ^*^ 25^00 

 inch in length, and 25^0 ^^^^ ^^ breadth. It is found in the 

 tumour, and the exuded fluids contained in and about it, in 

 large numbers, but is scarce in the blood itself; it varies in 

 shape, and often contains a clear spot or spore at one end, 

 sometimes one at each end. It is slightly motile, its movement 

 being from side to side. 



If iodine solution be added, the germs stain a violet colour. 

 In glycerine they grow readily, and become motile. 



They also stain with fuchsin, more particularly the spores 

 contained in them. 



When the virus is introduced into the system of a guinea-pig, 

 it becomes attenuated, and loses its great destructive powers. 



Protective Inoculation. — It has recently been demonstrated 

 that when the germs are introduced directly into the blood 

 stream, and not into the connective tissues, immunity to the 

 disease is caused. 



To obtain the germs for protective inoculation, the following 

 is the method recommended by Messrs Arloing, Cornevin, and 

 Thomas, and others, and found to be extremely successful : — 



From an animal just dead of the disease take the blackest 

 portion of the tumour, cut up into small pieces, mix with 

 distilled water, then triturate in a mortar, squeeze through 

 cloth, and filter through several folds of muslin which has been 

 previously wetted with water, and of this fluid inject from five 

 to ten drops into the jugular vein by means of a hypodermic 



