ANTHRAX 261 



a post-mortem examination, spore formation readily oc- 

 curs. In the vegetative form the or-janisins are easily 

 killed; but the spores an- exceedingly resistant, so that 

 every precaution should he laken to prevent the blood 

 from coming in font act with the air. The carcass should 

 not he skinned or opened, unless it is necessary for the pur- 

 pose of establishing the cause of death. If it is not possible 

 to destroy the carcass at 1 lie place where death occurred, it 

 should be removed by placing it on a stone-boat instead of 

 drair.innjr it on the irround. The opening of the carcass 

 should take place only at the point where its ultimate dis- 

 posal is to be carried out, which, if possible, should be by 

 hiirninjr rather than hurymir. If the carcass is buried, it 

 should be coven-d with (juick-Iime in a spot where there 

 will be no danger of the carcass beintr washed out. It is 

 well to fence in the spot to keep out do<js and stock. In 

 the unopened carcass tin- ve-j-et alive organisms rapidly die 

 ou'iuir to putrefactive processes. The o-n-at danuer in an- 

 thrax lies in the non-recognition of the first case and in 

 the careless disposal of the carcasv. 



Anthrax of man. Man is less susceptible to anthrax than 

 are cattle and shrep. In the disposal of anthrax cadavers, 

 especially when the d not recognized and the hide 



is removed, there is jrn-at danger of infection through 

 wounds on the hands or those inflicted during the process 

 of skinning. In case infection occurs, the trouble is likely 

 to be locali/ed in the form of a carbuncle at the point of 

 entry. In the handling of infected material such as hides, 

 wool and bristles, the workers are likely to become infected, 

 especially when the material is handled in a dry condition, 

 so that the spores of the anthrax bacilli may be taken into 

 the lungs or into the alimentary tract. Both respiration 

 and ingestion anthrax are usually fatal. 



Importance of correct diagnosis. There are a number 



