1908.] Official Circulars and Notices. 



59 



Anthrax spores shaken from the substances thus conveyed 

 may become mixed with the dust and sweepings of the 

 vessel's hold, or adhere to the sides of the hold, and may sub- 

 sequently become attached to the surface of other cargo carried 

 therein. Where the other cargo is intended for use in con- 

 nection with animals — e.g., where cattle-feeding cake or other 

 cattle food is carried in the hold — infection may be indirectly 

 conve3^ed by it to animals of the farm. 



Manure into the composition of which the blood or bones 

 of animals enter may also contain the spores of anthrax. 



The Board desire therefore to suggest that special precau- 

 tions should be adopted, where cargo of the nature above 

 described has been carried, to secure the most thorough dis- 

 infection of which circumstances admit of any hold or other 

 parts of the vessel in which it has been carried before such 

 places are used for carrying any cargo likely to be used as 

 cattle food. 



The following process of disinfection is recommended : — 

 Thoroughly sprinkle the compartment to be disinfected with 

 an antiseptic solution to prevent the raising of dust. Sweep 

 down the sides and floors ; carefully collect all dust and refuse 

 therefrom and destroy by fire. Then wash the sides and floors 

 with a strong solution of miscible carbolic acid (not less than 

 5 per cent, of acid) or a 3 per cent, solution of formalin which 

 contains not less than 40 per cent, of formaldehyde. Persons 

 employed on the work should wear indiarubber gloves as a 

 protection against inoculation. 



It should always be borne in mind that the spores of anthrax 

 have great resisting power. 



The Board have issued the following circular, dated 20th 

 March, 1908, to local authorities in Great Britain : — 

 Sir, 



Diseases Communi- I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and 



Cable between Fisheries to state, for the information of your Local 



Authority, that instances have been brought.to the 

 Man and Animals. notice of the Board from time to time of the 

 occurrence in the human subject of cases of 

 anthrax, glanders and hydrophobia, in which the facts suggested that 

 infection had been conveyed from an animal or its carcase to man. In view 

 of the communicability of these three diseases between man and animals, the 

 Board have been in correspondence with the Local Government Boards for 

 England and Scotland as to the desirability of making seme general arrange- 



