116 THE DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



mals which have died or are suspected to have perished from it. 

 "With wounded hands, or even the slightest abrasions of the cutis, 

 no one should make such an autopsy. Great care must be taken 

 not to wound one's self with the knife, or upon sharp edges of broken 

 bones, for death is almost sure to follow. 



While a student in Yirchow's laboratory at Berlin, the body of 

 a tanner who had died from anthrax was brought in ; the patient had 

 simply removed the scab from a razor-scratch on his neck with the 

 edge of a raw South American hide — sun-dried, however — which he 

 was carrying. This case also illustrates the extreme tenacity of the 

 germs of anthrax when dried. 



Prophylaxis. 



Notwithstanding the prevalence of the idea that the prevention 

 of the enzootic or sporadic outbreak of anthrax in regions where it 

 has constantly appeared is a task of great difficulty, we must say that 

 this does not accord with practical experience, as we have proven 

 by examples taken from the observations of persons of undoubted 

 ability. 



Although it is beyond question that such soils or districts are 

 highly infectious, yet we know that the thorough disinfection, and 

 other removal of cadavers than by burying, also a similar care with 

 reference to the excretions from such animals, have tended greatly 

 to diminish the annual losses from the disease in notorious districts. 



Diseased animals, as well as their cadavers, must be thoroughly 

 protected from the attacks of flies, by keeping the stables dark, 

 blankets, etc. 



As an excess of moisture, or drying out of the ground-water, 

 are both known, under certain previously mentioned conditions, 

 to favor the development of the bacteria, and consequent infection 

 of animals exposed thereto, and as practical experience has proved 

 that thorough draining of such districts has been of beneficial effect, 

 this procedure should always be resorted to. 



Animals should never be allowed to graze upon known anthrax 

 districts or suspected pastures. Such places should be fenced off 

 and used for agricultural purposes after careful drainage. 



While these remarks upon the soil as an infectious medium 

 should by no means be disregarded, still there are numerous obser- 

 vations and experiences on the part of unquestionably competent 

 men which seem to stand in open contradiction to the theory of the 

 infection of the earth by means of the cadavers of anthrax-diseased 

 animals. 



