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346 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1913 OF 
THE PRINCIPAL OF 
THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
Anthrax. 
The following Table shows the number of outbreaks of 
the last six years : — 
Year 
Outbreaks 
1908 
1,105 
1909 
1,317 
1910 
1,496 
1911 
907 
1912 
743 
1913 
594 
Animals attacked 
1,429 
1,698 
1,776 
1,120 
840 
652 
At a first glance these figures appear to show that in the year 
1911 theie was a sudden marked reduction in the number of 
outbreaks of anthrax occurring in Great Britain. The reduction 
shown in 1911, however, was probably only an apparent one, 
due to the fact that an important new procedure in dealing 
with the disease was introduced at the beginning of that year. 
Previously, when a suspected case was reported the decision as 
to whether it was, or was not a case of anthrax was deft to the 
veterinary inspector to the local authority, but since the end 
of 1910 the diagnosis in all suspected cases has been based on a 
microscopic examination, by expert officers of the Board of 
Agriculture and Fisheries, of blood or other material forwarded 
from the carcass by the local veterinary inspector. Hence, 
since that date only such “confirmed” outbreaks are included 5 
m the returns, whereas previously the corresponding figures 
included all “ reported ” outbreaks. 
Assuming that the diagnosis made by the officers of the 
Board is the more accurate, the drop in the outbreaks in 1911 
was simply the measure of the errors in diagnosis that were 
made under the old system. 
On the other hand, there appears to be no reason why the 
fall in the number of confirmed outbreaks since 1911 should 
not be accepted as evidence that the disease is becoming less 
prevalent, and the marked reduction during the past year is 
particularly gratifying. 
It will be observed that the number of animals attacked is 
not gieatly in excess of the number of outbreaks, which, of 
couise, means that in the great majority of cases what is called 
an outbreak comes to an end with the death of the first animal 
