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The Prevalence of Anthrax in Great Britain. 
The destruction of anthrax bacilli which takes place during 
the putrefaction of the carcass is very important in another respect. 
When one follows step by step the invasion of the carcass by 
putrefactive bacteria, and the disappearance of the anthrax 
bacilli which accompanies putrefaction, one cannot help surmising 
that putrefaction may in this case be a valuable means of disin- 
fection. The experiments hereafter given prove that this surmise 
is correct. They appear to warrant the conclusion that in certain 
conditions complete putrefaction renders an anthrax carcass 
innocuous. The conditions referred to are those that exclude the 
possibility of spore-formation on the part of the anthrax bacilli 
before putrefaction sets in. The conditions necessary for this 
spore-formation are — (1) free exposure to the air, and (2) a 
summer temperature (about 70° F.). It is obvious, therefore, 
that prompt burial at even a moderate depth, since it puts the 
carcass in conditions under which the formation of spores is 
impossible, and in conditions which are eminently favourable for 
putrefaction, is a perfectly safe method of disposing of an animal 
dead of anthrax. The experiments furnish good grounds for 
believing that soil contamination is much more frequently 
brought about by the shedding of blood in making post-mortem 
examinations, or by the discharge of anthrax bacilli from the body 
before death (in urine, &c.), than by the liberation of the bacilli 
from buried carcasses. 
Experiment I. 
April 4. — Inoculated two rabbits by scarifying the ear and rubbing in 
spleen-pulp of a sbeep dead of anthrax. The spleen had been removed from 
the body on the same day, about eighteen hours after death, at which time 
the carcass gave evidence of advanced putrefaction. No anthrax bacilli could 
be identified in the pulp on microscopic examination. 
Result. — The rabbits remained unaffected. 
Experiment II. 
April 4. — Inoculated two rabbits as in Experiment I. with spleen-pulp 
from a sheep dead of anthrax. In this case, also, about eighteen hours had 
elapsed before the spleen was removed from the body, and the carcass was 
putrid, but bacilli were still recognisable in the veins of the extremities. 
Result.— The rabbits remained unaffected. 
Experiment III. 
April 4. — Inoculated a rabbit by scarifying one of it3 ears and rubbing 
in pulp from the spleen of a cow dead of anthrax. This cow had died on 
March 30, and the spleen had been removed shortly after death. While still 
fresh (on the 31st) it showed on microscopic examination enormous numbers 
of anthrax bacilli, unmixed with any other bacteria. 
Result. — The rabbit died from anthrax on the afternoon of April 9. 
Experiment IV. 
May 9.— Inoculated a rabbit by scarifying its ear and rubbing in spleen- 
pulp from a lamb dead of anthrax. This lamb bad died on April 9, and its 
