A NOTE UPON ANTHRAX IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



By W. H. BoYNTON.' 



The existence of anthrax in the Philippines appears to have attracted 

 vevj little attention. The only reference to it in print is by McMuUen/ 

 who was sent to the pueblo of Tagudin, Province of Ilocos Sur, in 

 January, 1904, to investigate reports of a disease among animals the 

 outbreaks of which antedated the American occupation. The disease 

 occurred each year at the end of the rainy season and was most virulent 

 at the onset of the outbreaks, killing animals in from two hours to three 

 days after the first appearance of sj^mptoms. Microscopic examinations 

 of the blood from the viscera of animals dead of this infection revealed, 

 anthrax bacteria. Cultures were inade in the Government. laboratories 

 in Manila. 



In April, 1904, Doctor Lusk, veterinarian of the Second Cavalry, 

 United States Army, reported the death of two mules from anthrax at 

 Camp Wallace, La Union. These animals were of a pack train which 

 plied between Camp Wallace and Benguet. The infection was supposed 

 to have been contracted along the trail. 



In addition to these observations, the correspondence files of the 

 Bureau of Agriculture contain a few references to anthrax. The places 

 mentioned are the townships of Banco and Cayan, in the subprovince of 

 Lepanto, Mountain Province; and Sual, Pangasinan. The existence of 

 anthrax in Lepanto-Bontoc was questioned by a second veterinarian who 

 investigated the matter. No evidence is at hand to show that any diagno- 

 sis in these outbreaks was confinned by cultures. The records also show 

 that three shipments of cattle from Hongkong were quarantined for 

 anthrax. 



ANTHRAX IN TAYTAY, RIZAL. 



Dr. C. G. Thompson, in charge of the serum laboratory at Alabang, 

 on the 14th of August, 1910, called the writer's attention to a smear 

 preparation of blood made by Mr. Cattell, a live-stock inspector for the 

 Bureau of Agriculture. This preparation was taken from a carabao 



* Pathologist, Bureau of Agriculture, Manila, P. I. 



^A Preliminary Report on tlie Presence of Anthrax in the Philippine Islands. 

 Am. Vet. Rev. (1904-1905), 28, 935. 



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