No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 10:3 



eru'ole area. Aii(lii-ax is raused by a bacillus which, at'Ler death, 

 is found in the blood and in numerous places in the vascular parts 

 of the body. This bacillus has (he peculiarity of forming a spore 

 that is excessively resistant to unfavorable conditions of life and 

 that may retain its vitality and virulence in the soil for many years. 

 Therefore, when the carcass of an animal that dies of anthrax is 

 neglected, the soil may become infested with the germs of anthrax 

 and from this point they may be distributed by wind or water, or 

 by the f.eet of passing people or animals, and infect susceptible 

 animals .wdth which they come in contact. Even forage grown on 

 soils infected with anthrax, has been known to convey the disease. 

 All of these evils that are of such a very serious nature and continue 

 for so many years, may be avoided by disposing of the carcasses of 

 anthrax victims b}' cremation or deep burial. If burial is practiced, 

 the grave should be so arranged that it may not be washed out by 

 flood and it should be so deep and so protected that it may not be 

 excavated by do^s or other animals. Moreover, a layer of lime 

 several inches thick should be spread over the carcass before the 

 earth is filled in, in order to prevent earth worms from burrowing 

 in the carcass and subsequently carrying the infectious material 

 obtained from it to the top of the ground, where it would be availa- 

 ble to infect large animals. It has been shown that this danger is 

 a very real one and should be guarded against in the manner recom- 

 mended. 



Of all methods of disposing of carcasses of anthrax victims, the 

 best is cremation. Even if the carcass is deeply buried and the 

 grave is protected so that it may not be opened, there is a possi- 

 bility that surface or subterranean water draining through the 

 grave may convey the germs of anthrax long distances and bring 

 them to the surface at a lower level. It has been shown by 

 actual experiments that the germs of anthrax can be w'ashed 

 through several feet of earth. The cost of cremation is small, but 

 it is not much more, if any more, than a jjroper burial, and when it 

 has been carried out this serious danger has been removed for all 

 time. 



Instructions for cremating carcasses of animals dead of anthrax, 

 have been given repeatedly in these annual reports. Advice has 

 also been furnished upon this point by letter. It appears, however, 

 that there is still need for instruction upon this procedure, because 

 wasteful and laborious methods are still occasionally practiced or 

 cremation is neglected. 



To cremate a carcass with a minimum of fuel and labor, it is 

 •necessary that the carcass shall be placed above the source of heat, 

 and shall be burned from below. The reason for this is so evident 

 that it would seem that one vrould instinctively adopt tliis plan, but 



