34G Agricultural Journal of Victoria.. 



ANTHRAX. 



By J. R. Weir. 



{A Paper read before the Butter Factory Managers' Association.) 



Introductory. 



The paper 1 am about to read on Anthrax and its history has 

 been compiled (backed u]) by our official experience) from the works 

 of the leading authorities of the world on the subject. Though there 

 is still much to learn in connection with this disease, fortunately 

 bacteriological science has advanced sufficiently to enable a correct 

 diagnosis to be made, and there is no occasion now for owners 

 to be put tr) any unnecessary expense in eradicating disease 

 erroneously pronounced anthrax, as was often done in former- 

 years. 



As the object of our branch is to keep disease down and to keep the 

 reputation of the State up, and at the same time cause as little loss 

 as possible to the owner who is unfortunate enitugh to have 

 an outbreak of disease, we get our work done thoroughly, l)ut 

 quietly, and we do not publish any more than we can possibly help, as 

 to do such would only be to injure the owner, and scare the public. 



As an instance, 1 may state that after the newspaper reports 

 appeared of a recent outbreak, the Italian Consul refused to issue the 

 necessary certificate for the introduction into his country of wool and 

 other products from this State, but I am glad to say he afterwards 

 changed his mind when I convinced him the outbreak was only a local 

 one, and that our liocks and herds generally were amougst the 

 soimdest in the world. 



Through this, very little is known by the general public of the 

 valuable work done, or the losses saved the community l)y the 

 Stock branch. 



History of thk Disease. 



Briefly revicAving the antiquity of this dread disease, a reliable- 

 authority informs us that the sixth plague of Bjgypt, spoken of in 

 the Second Book of Moses, was anthrax. This same Avriter further 

 alludes to its transmissibility to man by clothing. Homer, in the 

 Iliad, describes its ravages among men, mules, and dogs. Latin 

 writers from Ovid to Virgil, including Plutarch, hiyy, and Lucretius,, 

 make mention of the havoc caused by it among cattle, both in ])as- 

 ture and in sheds^ sacrificial animals, and men. 



In the years 1552, 1598, and 1599, several outbreaks occurred in 

 Italy ; and the Senate of Venice forbade the sale of beef under the 

 penalty of death. 



Kirchener in 1017 describes this bovine disease infecting mankind, 

 and causing the death of 60,000 people in Europe. From that period 

 to the present day outbreaks have been prevalent in vai-ious jilaces 



