b'Si GENERAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES 



uials. Tlic spores may be present in infected grounds or may be washed 

 from other localities by inundations or drainage by streams. With the re- 

 ceding of the water they are deposited upon the ground ; vegetation in such 

 infected places may also contain them. Animals pasturing in such dis- 

 tricts ingest the spores with the feed or water, and since the gastric juice 

 does not destroy all of them, some pass into the intestines where infection 

 takes place. The disease may also be introduced into the animals through 

 the skin by the bite of infected flies, and through the lungs by inhaling the 

 germs. The period of incubation varies from two to fourteen days. 



Differential Diagnosis. 



It frequently becomes necessary to differentiate anthrax from black- 

 leg. In blackleg the swellings under the skin crackle under pressure of 

 the fingers, owing to the presence of gas in the tissues, while the tumor 

 of anthrax, being due to the presence of serum, is of somewhat doughy 

 consistence. The blood of animals dead from blackleg is normal and the 

 spleen does not appear swollen or darkened as is the case in animals 

 affected with anthrax. 



The chief difference between anthrax and tick fever 'is that the 

 course of the former is more acute and the blood of the animal is dark 

 and of a tar-like consistency, while in tick fever it is in some cases even 

 thinner than normal. 



Of the utmost importance is the disposition of the carcasses of ani- 

 mals which have died of anthrax. These are in most instances responsible 

 for the propagation of the disease. The simplest means is to bury the 

 carcasses deep — at least six feet under the surface — where they cannot 

 be exposed by dogs or wild animals. The premises and all the utensils 

 that came in contact with the infected animals should be thoroughly dis- 

 infected. Likewise chlorinated lime should be sprinkled at every place 

 where any discharges from affected animals have accumulated. 



All carcasses should be disposed of without being opened, since the 

 access of the air into the opened carcass causes the spore formations 

 which may retain their infective power for years, whereas, if the carcass 

 is not opened the germs -do not produce spores and are readily destroyed 

 through the process of decomposition. 



Preventive Inoculation 



Anthrax may be successfully controlled by periodical vaccination of 

 all stock in infected localities. This method, even if practiced alone, will 

 have splendid results in minimizing the losses from anthrax. However, 

 such vaccination must be carried out regularly in infected localities and 

 irrespective of whether the disease has already appeared on the premises 

 or not. 



Fortunately, in anthrax we have at our command various methods of 

 vaccination which have been proved highly efficient in the production of 

 immunity. This was one of the first infectious diseases in which protec- 

 tive vaccination was successfully demonstrated, and for this we are in- 

 debted to Pasteur. 



Heretofore the Pasteur method was used, principally, for the pre- 

 vention of anthrax in the United States. There are, however, disadvan- 

 tages in this method of vaccination that have probably been responsible 



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