ANTHRAX. 463 



to determine the nature of the disease, it is well to take it shortly 

 before (when the attack is at its height) or shortly after death ; 

 for the microbes of anthrax disappear proportionately to the extent 

 to which the bacteria of putrefaction invade the carcase. Sir 

 John MoFadyean points out that although anthrax germs will be 

 found in the greatest number in the fresh spleen ; that organ is 

 not very suitable for examination ; because it is one of the first to 

 be attacked by putrefactive bacteriaj which, owing to their re- 

 semblance CO the bacilli anthracis, make recognition difficult, 

 especially to persons who are not trained microscopists. lie 

 therefore counsels that in all cases in which there is reason to 

 believe that putrefaction (owing to the length of time after death) 

 has begun in the body of an animal suspected of having died of 

 anthrax ; in preference to blood from the spleen, that from the ear 

 or foot should be selected, both of which continue free from putre- 

 factive bacteria, long after the invasion of the spleen. For the 

 purpose in question, cut off and take away an ear from the dead 

 body. Even in midsummer, the blood in the veins of an ear or a 

 foot removed from the unopened carcase on the day after death 

 shows large numbers of anthrax bacilli, and even as late as the 

 third day after death, anthrax bacilli are still readily demon- 

 strable in the situations mentioned (" Journal of Comparative 

 Pathology "). 



SANITARY MEASURES.— Although the microbes of anthrax 

 do not appear capable, under ordinary circumstances, of being 

 carried by the air from one horse to another ; the risk of contami- 

 nation of ground, fodder, and water by anthrax-stricken animals 

 is sufficiently great to render segregation advisable. Consequently, 

 when an outbreak occurs among a stud of horses, they should be 

 removed, if possible, to some dry, healthy position. Tlie whole of 

 them should be kept apart from other animals ; and there should 

 be a further division made between the sick and apparently healthy. 

 In effecting this, the clinical thermometer (p. 691) will be found 

 to be of great use. The water and grass or hay should be changed. 

 Special care should be taken to avoid the use of grass grown near 

 water which is of a marshy nature, or comes from a polluted 

 source. If, as is generally the case in India, the flooring of the 

 stables be of earth, it should, belore the horses return to them, 

 be dug up for a foot or two, the old soil removed," fresh earth 

 filled in, C/oncrete, which should be liberally treated with crude 

 carbolic acid, laid down, and the usual disinfecting precautions 

 observed. The best practical measures for the purifying of anthrax- 

 oontaminated land are draining and a good dressing of lime, and 

 salt (p. 406). 



