igo6.] 



Anthrax. 



107 



£20, and in certain circumstances to a month's imprisonment 

 with hard labour. 



It is the duty of the local authority on receiving such notice 

 to institute inquiries, and to make proper provision for the dis- 

 posal of the carcase of any animalsuspectedof anthrax, and for the 

 disinfection of the premises upon which the disease has existed. 



Precautions to be taken pending Inquiry. — Pending such 

 inquiry the owner can do much to assist in preventing the 

 spread of the disease amongst his stock, and it is clearly to his 

 own interests that he should do so. 



The sick animal should on no account be killed but should be 

 carefully isolated from all other animals. Should it die before 

 the arrival of the veterinary inspector the carcase must not be 

 dragged along the ground, but should be allowed to remain 

 where it is, until the examination has taken place. It is 

 essential that the carcase of the animal should not be cut or 

 opened, and steps should be taken to prevent the escape of 

 blood or of excretions which may contain blood. Precautions 

 should also be adopted to prevent the possibility of any person 

 or animal obtaining access to the carcase or to any blood which 

 may have exuded therefrom. As an additional precaution 

 quicklime may be freely spread on the floor or on the ground 

 surrounding the carcase. Animals with which the suspected 

 animal has been in association should be carefully watched, and 

 isolation at once adopted in the case of any animal showing 

 symptoms similar to those of the suspected animal. 



Procedure of tJie Local Authority. — The local authority is 

 required by Article 3 of the Anthrax Order of 1899 to 

 obtain the assistance and advice of a veterinary inspector in all 

 instances in which anthrax is reported to them. Although the 

 clinical symptoms may in many instances justify a veterinary 

 inspector in forming the opinion that anthrax exists, it is 

 desirable that his diagnosis should be supported by the positive 

 evidence of a microscopical examination of the blood of the 

 suspected animal. Such examination, if the specimen be 

 obtained soon after death, is by no means difficult. The speci- 

 mens should be taken in duplicate and carefully preserved for 

 future reference. 



Investigations as to the origin of the outbreak should include 



