310 GENERAL SCIENCE 



infected for nine or ten years, and a running stream contiguous 

 to the grave may carry infection along its course. Fodder or 

 hay cut from the neighborhood of the grave may also carry the 

 infection. Cattle driven through an anthrax-infected district may 

 contract the disease, and one sick or dead animal may infect a 

 wide area. 



Animals killed by anthrax, or suspected anthrax, should not 

 be opened or skinned, as these operations are often followed by 

 infection of the operator, and may result in the further spread 

 of the disease among other animals. Infection may easily be carried 

 also by flies, dogs, cats and other animals. Even wool-waste or leather- 

 scrap may transport the disease if these materials are used as fer- 

 tilizers. 



Whenever possible the carcasses of animals killed by anthrax 

 should be cremated; and under no circumstances should the hides 

 be sold, as, whether wet or dry, they are a source of great danger. 

 As anthrax is most common in hot weather, persons handling the 

 sick or dead animals should be careful to guard thoroughly against 

 the danger of being bitten by flies or other insects that may carry 

 the infection. A thorough disinfection of person and clothing must 

 follow every exposure. 



Men who handle hides from infected animals often have car- 

 buncles on their hands and shoulders. Wool-sorter's disease is 

 due to handling the wool of infected sheep. Carbuncles develop 

 on animals which offer great resistance to anthrax. 



The incubation period of anthrax, or charbon, is from two to 

 twelve days; consequently vaccinated animals which develop the 

 disease within a period of twelve days after vaccination, had con- 

 tracted the disease before they were vaccinated. 



The most common source of infection is probably through the 

 animal taking in the bacilli when grazing on infected pasture or 

 drinking infected water, or through the bites of insects, flies, mosqui- 

 toes, etc. 



Because of this disease, the greatest precautions must always be 

 taken. Pastures or stables once infected are a grave menace for 

 years. Streams running through polluted pastures may carry the 

 disease and distribute it for miles* 



