ANTHRAX 161 



capillaries as to have ruptured them and escaped into the 

 surrounding tissue. Anthrax once introduced may become 

 endemic in a field in the following manner : The infected 

 animal dies, the bacilli in the bloody discharges that come 

 in contact with the air develop spores, which may be blown 

 about on to the surrounding soil, where the organism can 

 lead a saprophytic life. Animals feeding on grass growing 

 about this spot would be liable to infection. The bacilli 

 might be killed in the stomach, but the spores could with- 

 stand its action and enter the circulation. 



People engaged in the woollen industries — wool-sorters, 

 etc. — are liable to pulmonary anthrax (malignant pustule) 

 from breathing the spores which have been shaken out 

 of wool. Wool-sorter's disease is often associated with 

 pleurisy. 



In November, 1896, the Home Office appointed a com- 

 mittee upon anthrax to make inquiry into, and report on, 

 the conditions of work as they affect the health of the 

 operatives in the industries in which anthrax is alleged to 

 occur, and to report what, if any, special rules should be 

 made or special requirements enforced under the Factories 

 and Workshops Act, 1895, for the protection of persons 

 employed in those industries. The committee having taken 

 the evidence of a large number of persons, including official 

 and other experts, as well as employers and employed, 

 and having visited numerous works, have now presented 

 their report. They say that two principal forms of 

 the disease have to be recognised — external anthrax or 

 malignant pustule, and internal anthrax. The period of 

 incubation is short, and does not usually exceed three days. 

 Among wool-sorters both varieties are met with, but in the 

 sorting of dry hides and skins — another dusty process — 

 only the external variety is heard of. Amongst rag-sorters 

 there is no special incidence of anthrax, although in 



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