19 



]Many outbreaks of anthrax have been traced to the indiscriminate burial 

 of carcases of animals which have died of the disease. According to 

 Pasteur, spores of the bacilli are brought to the surface of the earth by 

 earth worms, even ten to twelve months after burial of the diseased carcases ; 

 but this method of propagation is doutbful. Dogs, after feeding on the 

 diseased flesh, may bite sheep, and thus inoculate them with the disease. 

 Flies feeding on anthrax blood have been shown to absorb suflicient poison 

 in their proboscides to give the disease to animals. Anthrax may also be 

 spread by eating food contaminated by water containing the germs of the 

 disease. Uncleaned knives used in dressing carcases may also propagate 

 anthrax. The germs are said to be most volatile in spring and summer, less 

 so in autumn, and still less in winter. 



Although anthrax has not yet been shown to be infectious, yet there is 

 every probability that it is. It often appears first in districts vvhere it is local 

 or endemic, and afterwards assumes an epidefnic form, spreading rapidly and 

 infecting many animals. We must now turn to the consideration of the 

 symptoms of the forms of anthrax in the horse. 



i\nthrax fever in the horse is rare in Great Britain. The symptoms 

 appear suddenly. The animal trembles violently, perspires very freely, 

 and breathes irregularly and with difficulty, loses control over his movements, 

 staggers, and dies convulsed. These acute symptoms may however abate in 

 two or three days, and finally end in death or recovery. Sometimes they are 

 not so rapidly manifested. A disinclination to move, a loss of power over the 

 muscles, 'drowsiness, stupidity, and great prostration, are marked features. 

 Other symptoms are a yellowish bloody discharge from the nose, fetid breath, 

 and pain in the body, which last is shown by uneasiness, pawing, and 

 frequent looking at the sides. The excrement is fluid and blood stained, 

 the skin is harsh and dry, and in some cases crackles when pressed towards 

 the loins. The pulse is irregular, increased in number, and the temperaturfe 

 is raised several degrees, and may reach 106'' to 108° F. The respirations 

 become tumultuous and hurried, and the nostrils widely opened ; the 

 temperature falls, and the animal staggers at every step ; convulsions and 

 delirium ensue ; and death ends the scene. Sometimes in the horse, at a 

 certain stage in the fever, there is an external eruption of tumours called 

 "anthrax pustules." They are especially met with in the upper part of the 

 throat, the lower part of the neck, on the back, and in the groin. As the 

 tumours develop, the fever often abates, but in rare instances when they 

 vanish the disease assumes all the characteristics of anthrax without 

 tumours, the general symptoms reappear, and the animal dies in about 

 twelve hours. 



The horse is also liable to two forms of anthrax, characterised by 

 changes in special parts. These are termed anthracoid diseases. They 

 have not as yet been proved to be due to the bacilli anthracis, and are 

 named glossanthrax and anthracoid angina respectively, and are generally 

 associated together, rarely occurring separately. The tongue in the former 

 .malady is swollen and hard, hangs from the mouth, is of a dark bluish or 



