456 



Anthrax. 



that may contain some blood should escape, as the spores 

 contained within the blood will multiply with rapidity, and 

 when exposed to the air may become the means of infecting 

 other animals. 



In most instances, the first intimation of an outbreak of 

 anthrax or splenic- fever is the discovery of a dead animal in 

 the pasture or byre. Perhaps the animal was left a few hours 

 before in apparent health ; at least, there was nothing to 

 attract attention, or give any warning of the near approach 

 of death. Occasionally there are certain premonitory symp- 

 toms of an attack of anthrax which can be recognised by an 

 expert. The affected animal is dull, and disinclined to 

 move. If one of a herd at pasture is attacked the fact is 

 indicated by the separation of the sick animal from the 

 rest. From time to tim.e the animal will cease to feed, 

 and stand with the head bent towards the ground, and some- 

 times a little blood is discharged from the nose and also with 

 the faeces. Close attention will enable the observer to detect 

 an occasional shiver, with trembling of the limbs, which 

 seems to pass rapidly over the bod}^, and then ceases. The 

 shivering fits now become more frequent, and perhaps, while 

 these signs are being noted, the animal will suddenly roll 

 over on its side, and, after a few violent struggles, expire. 

 On close inspection, especially in the case of swine, it will 

 often be found that there is a good deal of swelling under the 

 throat, extending down the neck ; and the swollen part will 

 at first be hot and tender to the touch, but as the disease 

 goes on it becomes insensitive, cold, and clammy. 



Although a communicable disease, anthrax is not trans- 

 mitted from the living diseased animal to the healthy by 

 association, as in the case of cattle plague, foot and mouth 

 disease, or other animal diseases of a contagious nature, but 

 is almost invariably transmitted to the healthy animal 

 through the medium of food or water containing the spores 

 of the disease. These spores may also find their way into 

 the circulation through a cut or abrasion. The disease may 

 be introduced through the spreading of infected manure on 

 the pastures, and occasionally outbreaks have been directly 



