218 ANTHRAX. 



anthrax, we know sufficient of the influences which pre- 

 dominate as factors in the production of the condition to 

 entitle us to make an attempt in this direction with reasonable 

 hope of success. And from a somewhat extensive experience, 

 though more particularly with cattle and sheep, we are satisfied 

 that if we cannot cure we can largely prevent. The several 

 methods of propagation have been discussed, and in consider- 

 ing its prevention not one of these should be overlooked. Our 

 first efforts will of course be directed to the separation of the 

 healthy from the diseased. Then the medical treatment of 

 these, and, in case of death, the proper disposal of the cadaver- 

 ous oftal, and everything which may have become contaminated, 

 demand our attention. The most satisfactory manner in which 

 to get rid of all these is to burn them, or, where this is not 

 practicable, to submit them to boiling. All excreta, straw, 

 water, food, to which the diseased have had access, etc., should 

 be placed under the destructive process. The stable and sur- 

 roundings, when the patients have been suffering indoors, 

 should be scrupulously cleaned and disinfected. Every effort 

 of the medical adviser must immediately be directed to dis- 

 cover the source and nature of the food and water supply, and 

 all other animals which have in any way come under the 

 same conditions as the affected should be removed from these 

 conditions, and kept isolated from them until the cause of 

 the outbreak is elucidated, and removed when this is possible. 

 Of course this is not always an eas}^ matter, and often defies 

 the most careful investigation ; and it is only in these cases, 

 after all possible sanitary precautions have been attended to, 

 that the animals may be returned to cohabitation. Coincident 

 with the separation of healthy and diseased should be the ad- 

 ministration, to the former as well as the latter, of some anti- 

 septic, as already advised for the affected, in the form of carbolic 

 acid, hyposulphite of soda, etc. These remarks apply equally 

 to animals stabled or grazing. Further, our memories, and 

 those of others possessed of local knowledge, should be taxed 

 to ascertain if a previous outbreak had occurred in the same 

 locality, and more especially the spot at which the animals 

 had been affected, or, more important still, where the carcases 

 had been deposited. It will then be our duty to see if these 

 spots have been disturbed, or if anything has occurred to 



