ANTHRAX.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 2

ANTHRAX.

■ ' ' HOW TO DETECT IT. In viow of the identification of tho outbreak at Gunnedah as anthrax (says a writer in tho "Sydney Morning Herald"), some points concerning tho disease may bo of valuo. Anthrax is a disease which oecurs epidemically among tho horbirora (cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and horses), and is causod by a germ—tho bacillus of anthrax. These germs lie on tho ground, and with the growth of herbage will bo found in tho grass, weeds, thistles, etc. Steele are liable to get the' disease by eating any such infected material, or by picking up dirt which contains the germs. In a time such as tho present stock will pick up tho dry and dusty grass, thistles, etc., and at tho same time pick up some dirt from the ground. This was seen in an ox opened to-day, whore there was found insido articles sucli as gum leaves (dry), dry grass, dirt, thistles (dry), and other materials. When an animal absorbs theso anthrax germs a general blood poisoning sets in, generally with fatal results, sometimes within a few hours. Tho symptoms to an ordinary observer aro generally lassitude, and sometimes at first marked activity, drowsiness, groggy in tho legs, with signs of bleeding from the noso, sometimes from mouth, from the fundament, blood in tho water, frothy and blood-stained discharge from mouth or nose, dark colour in tho white of the eye. Tho blood is of very dark colour, sometimes being oven tarry in appoarance. The animal lies down and dies, though recovery does occur in somo fow cases. i> On opening tho animal there will bo seen small bleedings on tho surfaco of tho bladder; in fact, small bleedings anywhere in the body. The intestino is darkened and iullamed with blood in tho lowor bowel. The coating of tho stomach and intestine is red, dark, and inflamed. Very important is the soft, enlarged, dark-red, and bloodstained spleen (or melt). To eradicate the diseaso from an iiifected area may be almost an impossibility, but tho prevention of its spread is all important. Tlip only effective and practical way of destruction is by completely burning tlio carcases, also the blood that may have been let out by bleeding. Even then thoro would bo left areas of infection about the ground. Tho poison is very resistant to temperatures, and lies about tho ground for years, cases being on record whoro a diseased ox was left to rot and later horses died from eating tho grass which grow 011 the spot. Tho risk to human beings who handlo theso diseased beasts is very great, the smallest out being suflioiont to induco fatal blood poisoning. _ 1 Preventive inronlation by a vaccine has been tried with fairly satisfactory results, tho animals being rendered iiumuno for perhaps a year. Treatment is not too satisfactory. Purgatives aro given, and removal of the healthy animals to now pastures will probably sav'o thom. Constantly moving tho diseased animals about with dashing of cold wator 011 the head are methods which have dono some good. Othor names for. tho disease are: —Splonic fevor, charbon (in_ Franco), malignant pustule, woolsortors diseaso, Cumberland disease (in Australia).