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XX. — Report on an Inquiry into an Outbreak of Anthrax Fever 
in a Flock of Eices and Lambs, the property of Mr. Gaitskill, 
Hall Santo7i, Cumberland. By W. DuGUiD, M.R.C.V.S., 
Veterinary Inspector of the Society. 
On the 20th of May I visited Hall Santon, and examined a 
flock of ewes and lambs belonging to Mr. Gaitskill. 
Previous to my leaving London, I had received information 
that in the course of five days, from the 13th to the 18th of May, 
no less than 26, out of 94, lambs and 3 ewes had died. On the 
morning of the 19th the mortality was found to have increased 
to an alarming extent, 12 more lambs and several ewes having 
died in one day. 
When I arrived on the 20th, the number of deaths was still 
increasing ; and by the evening, when I left, two-thirds of the 
lambs, besides a considerable proportion of the ewes, had suc- 
cumbed. 
From the very rapid course of the disease, the great mortality, 
and the fact that none had recovered, there could be no doubt 
that they were suffering from some form of blood-poisoning. 
The symptoms described by the owner, and observed by me 
in the affected animals, clearly indicated the nature of the 
disease, viz. anthrax fever ; and the post-mortem appearances 
confirmed this opinion. 
When first afiected the animals seemed dull, head depressed, 
ears dropped, appetite lost, rumination suspended, back arched, 
breathing accelerated and somewhat difficult, eyes bloodshot, 
fever considerable, secretions scanty, with tendency to consti- 
pation. 
As the disease progressed, these svmptoms became more 
marked ; the animal had a great disinclination to move, show- 
C ing a peculiar stiff gait, often amounting to actual lameness in 
' one or both hind legs. In from 24 to 48 hours, often less, the 
disease had run its course, and the animals would be found 
lying in a convulsed state prior to death. I examined a number 
of the dead animals, and had one or two of those in a dying state 
killed for examination. 
In all cases there existed more or less congestion of the lungs ; 
this was most marked in the lambs. The most constant and 
characteristic lesion observed was the extravasation of blood 
under the serous membranes, and in the tissue of the heart, and 
sometimes even in the voluntary muscles. 
With regard to the state of the digestive organs after death, 
the stomach was full, showing that loss of appetite and suspen- 
sion of rumination had not existed long before death. In some 
