462 GENERAL DISEASES. 



lating to prove that the virus of the disease is brought to troop 

 horses with the grass grown upon inundated soil, especially the 

 creeping grass. Horses fed upon rumnah grasses cut above-ground 

 are far less subject to the disease than those fed on the common 

 huryali, which is cut on or below the surface, and has much of the 

 soil brought in with its stem (" Veterinary Returns of the Madras 

 Army"). 



Anthrax appears to occur at all altitudes and in all latitudes. 



Ground impregnated with the blood or dung of animals suffering 

 from anthrax, will remain virulent for a long time. This will be 

 especially the case, if the soil in question be soft, damp and badly 

 drained. Flies play a large part in distributing the disease. 



The germs of anthrax are often imported in foreign hides and 

 wool, and sometimes even in grain. They not infiequently infect 

 land and water by drainage from tanneries and wool factories. 



Pasteur points out that if an animal which has suffered from 

 anthrax be buried under ordinary conditions, the ground imme- 

 diately over the carcase will, in a short time, become infested with 

 these germs, owing to the fact of earth worms bringing them to 

 the surface. Hence, the dead bodies and excreta of such animals 

 should, if possible, be burnt. 



Anthrax germs will retain their vitality for years when kept 

 in a dried condition. The action of boiling water, and of certain 

 antiseptics, such as corrosive sublimate and carbolic acid, destroys 

 them. 



PERIOD OF INCUBATION.— The period from inoculation to the 

 time the disease manifests itself, varies from two hours to three 

 days. It appears that the larger the amount of virus received 

 by an animal, the more rapid will be the course of the disease. 

 Forty-eight hours is considered to be about the ordinary period 

 of incubation. 



DURATION.— The usual apparent duration of the attack, in 

 fatal cases, varies from twelve to forty-eight hours. Some cases 

 terminate fatally- in as short a time as three hours ; while others 

 may linger on for five or six days. 



IDENTIFICATION OF ANTHRAX.— In order to verify the 

 conjecture that a horse has died from anthrax, inoculate other 

 animals, such as rabbits, mice, or guinea-pigs with blood obtained 

 from the horse in qiiestion. Guinea-pigs are very susceptible to 

 this virus. 



If the blood of animals suspected to be suffering, or to have died, 

 from anthrax, be required for microscopical examination in order 



