1906.] 



Anthrax. 



109 



known that anthrax is due solely to the introduction into the 

 blood of an animal or of man of the minute germs of anthrax 

 or their spores. The disease may therefore be introduced by 

 any medium capable of conveying these germs or spores. 

 Feeding stuffs brought on to a farm, or manures made from 

 animal substances, may be vehicles of infection. If a stream 

 becomes contaminated, as has been found to be the case where 

 certain industries involving the use of the hides, hair, &c., of 

 animals are carried on, the spores may be carried to the farm 

 by the water. The spores of anthrax develop into bacilli which 

 find their way into the circulation of an animal through a cut 

 or abrasion. 



Where infectio-n has once been introduced upon a farm it has 

 frequently been kept up by the ignorance or carelessness of 

 individuals, and in some cases farms have become permanently 

 infected with anthrax. 



It is a common practice amongst owners of stock to slaughter 

 their cattle as soon as they present symptoms of serious illness 

 in order that the carcase and hide may be utilized. Where, as 

 is not uncommonly the case, the sudden illness is due to the 

 presence of anthrax, the greatest mischief is done by such a 

 practice. The blood of the diseased animal is distributed on 

 the ground, or it may be on the floors of the cattle shed or upon 

 the mangers, or is carried on the boots of the attendants to other 

 parts of the farm or premises. The bacilli contained within the 

 blood of a diseased animal will, when exposed to the air, multi- 

 ply with rapidity and produce spores which may become the 

 means of infecting other animals at short or long intervals. 

 Many cases have come under the notice of the Board from time 

 to time of persons having contracted anthrax whilst engaged in 

 slaughtering animals, or in dressing or otherwise handling the 

 carcases of animals. From the beginning of July to the end 

 of December, 1904, as many as twelve persons are known to 

 have contracted the disease whilst so employed, six of whom 

 died, whilst in one case amputation of the arm became neces- 

 sary. Since 1904 similar cases have been reported to the Board 

 involving deaths. 



On the other hand the bacilli of anthrax die tf kept within 

 tlie intact carcase of an infected animal ; no spores are 



