BY C. J. POUND, F.R.M.S. XI 



teiuporate atmosphere, but always in a desiccated condition. 

 From time to time I test the virulence of these spores by placing 

 a little piece of thread under the skin of a guinea-pig, which 

 results in the death of the animal (withoiit any exception what- 

 e\"er), within twenty-four hours, of virulent Anthrax. Moreover, 

 on microscopical examination of a merest trace of blood taken 

 from tlie spleen, the Anthrax bacilli are readily demonstrated in 

 largo numbers. This experiment illustrates very clearly how the 

 spores of the Anthrax bacilli may get into the soil, and nuxy 

 remain there in a dormant state for many years. Anthrax has 

 lieen known to break out among cattle grazing on a field where 

 several years previously some Russian hides from infected 

 animals had been ])uried. ])y some means or other the spores 

 may contaminate the grass and hay imported from an Anthrax- 

 infected district, and may start the disease on a farm on which it 

 had never been known to occur. The spores may in a similar 

 way with blood manure and bone manure, or with refuse used 

 for manure ; the skin, hair, wool, hoofs and horns of infected 

 animals, if soiled with blood, are contaminated by the bacillus. 

 Bearing all these facts in mind, it will be seen how necessary it 

 is that the strictest supervision should be exercised whenever an 

 outbreak of splenic fever or Anthrax takes place, and that the 

 disjjosal by cremation of the carcasses of the affected animals 

 should be most vigorously enforced. Unfortunately those most 

 closely connected with this disease are only too often quite 

 ignorant of its dangers. Thus, during an outbreak of this disease 

 a few years ago in England, I recollect quite well the case of a 

 butcher who was called in by the farmer to skin and dress some 

 animals that had died from Anthrax. Very naturally, like most 

 butchers, he became bespattered witli blood, and when the work 

 was complete he went down to the other end of the paddock and 

 washed his face and hands with water from a running stream, 

 afterwards wiping them with sonu' coarse sedgy grass, which 

 produced several slight cuts through the skin. No notice 

 whatever was taken of the cuts for several days, when 

 suddenly on a considerable area around each cut there appeared 

 an intense inflammation ; on the following morning they became 

 so painful that he decided to seek the advice of a medical man, 

 who, after making full eiKiuiries into the history of the case, 



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