LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 7

LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS.

No. 27.— Anthrax —By J. A. Gilhuth, •M.R.C.V.S , Government Veteriuariau. Anthrax is a blood disease, which may affect men and nearly all animals, due to the presence and multiplication in the blood of a minute rodlike vegetable parasite kaown as the Bacillus anthracis. The spares or Feeds 0? this micT_-org*nism possess extraordinary powers of resistance, so much so that ib is with difficulty they m»y be destroyed by chemical or physical wexaa, and, so fur as natural disinfectants are concerned, direct sunlight seems to be the only one at all effectual. TJaoee spore* may bo brought on to a fawn by fodder, litter, manure, or nlmost any aub»tauc_ that has been in contact wit_ an animal suffering or that has died from th« disease. Provided there ha« bocc no method empfojed to render tfcem inaocuoui, the bones of an animal th*t b»«i ds«d of anthcax wiil retain, the germs for an iQdbfiaite period of time Dis.-«f=od aoimalg do nob tr*n»mit tho virus simply by Besoci-tion with othw aahnals, as is the cwso with ranny spo=i_o di»cai6B ; the virus must bo inlreduceu into the blood stream directly through a wound or abrasion in tho akin, or through the alimentary canal, btfore the fiffootim can be communicated, and as the slightrsb wound or abrasion ia fcufficiont to allow the entrance of thcao organisms, ii has bsf-n trnly B*.id that the oaicise of an animal d.^ad of anthrax is more dangerous than a living diicvessd animal. In from two to twelve hours after the introduction of the virus symptoms may generally benotioed ; but as the course of tha disease is, in cattle especially, very rapid, usually tho first intimation the stockownac his of its existence is the sudden de*th of ai auirnal that a few hours previously was apparently in the best of health. Such an ccuurrenco is always very saspieitu? of anthrax, more especially if followed by other deaths within a day or two. Occasionally, but more especially iv sheep, the affected animal shows certain symptoms, such as dulness, disinclination to move, fhivering, trembling, and often, shortly before death, a bloody discharge from nose and anus. lv swine there is usually a considerable swelling, at first hot and painful, in th* region of tho throat and neck, which is fairly diagnostic. As the disease approaches a fatal termination, the shivering fits become more inteiine, and finally the animal drops down suddenly and expires. Post-mortem appearances may vary somewhat, but thera are certain lesions almost invariably present. There are usually bemorrha^ic patches underneath the skin, surface of Uidnejs, mucous and serous membranes. In th". cavities of the chest e>ni abdomen, a'so where superficial swellings occur, a reddish visoid serous fluid may be found. The spleen i- usually enlarged to two or three times its natural size, engorged with blackish tarrylooking blood, and very friable to the touch. The alimentary canal often eontaius a considerable quantity of bl ' mixed with the contents, and the liniug membrane is congested. If an animal has baen opened, and postp\ortem appearances found such as described above, a small portion of the spleeD, kidney,

and lung* should be placed iv spirit, and fotwardod hero at odco for examination. But M the micro-orgiiiisms require atr for their growth, and r»pklly undergo degeneration and death if it is excluded, great e_re should be takon not to m_ke any incision in the skin further than thac neceesary for diagnostic purposes. To avoid opening the animal more than necessary, the following course mty be pursued : In c&ttlo an ear should be cut off. wrapped up, and forwarded here without delay, and in sheep an oar and a foot should be foi warded. These bhould nut be placed in any preservative. In addition to these, a small piece of smooth, clear gl&fS should be procured, and on this a drop of blood smeared with a match and allowed to dry ; then a small piece of cardboard should bo plaoed on top, and prevented from rubbing en the blood by means of a small slip cf cardboard inserted at each end. AU carcases should be burned where they lie f and more especially the one used to obtain mutjrieU from to forward here. This ensures absolute destruction of everything — blood, excrement, &c. — about the carcase, and also puriflis the ground of any germs that may have lodged there. It is impossible for one having anythiug to do with a ciso of suspected authrax to be too c.vreful o f bis o R'U •sifofcy, as abraeions almond unobdervable to the uakecl eye on tho hand- of an operator huve bsen known to ba the moaj^ of allowing the entrance of these deadly germs into the b'oid, with fatal results. Ib is always advisable to wear gloves whou manipulating 6uch % carcase. Knives or ether iuntrumenfcs should bo kepb in boiling water for half auhour after mo. » Immediately on tho occurrence of a suspected outbreak of anthrax, the local inspector o| stook mu?t be cowmuuieated with. The other animals phould ba removed from the affected paddock, i-joldtocl, and watched for a week, and any anima's showing the uli^liteet indfflpoaltion ehuuld be remove! from tie rest of the herd till recovery takes place. Again, it is repotted, all ciro&se3 of suoh anim-ls thould be burned where they are found. Other methods have been rccommanded, but unless carried out with ecrupnlous exactitude danger may be incurred of infectiug some place or pereon, while destruction by fire ensurei ab* sclu*-« certainty and safety. It U noadle^a to say that any fi tiogs, fodder, litter, or other ftubtithuoa in coutaob wirh tha dead nnimal nhould _lee be burned. Prevention by inocula* tioa, on the »y»ici_ recommendod by M. Pas*teur, of Parit, h_s been attended with couiider*ble success in France and Australia ; but such a coursa is not advisable unless in the hands of an expert. In regard to the disinfrcMou of fields and like places in which animals tffeciod with a_« thr.ix have died or been slaughtered, there are sorious difficulties which oannot b_ complctaly removed. A top-dressing of lime i* the most eimple metiiod which c&n ba employed, and, after a month or six weeks, the land nrvy ba restocked. But it must be understood th»t a certain degrea of risk is mcune.l after a much longor interval, and occasion illy ib has been found impossible to render oontAminated land Bate. In the majority of caeca, however, the plan wiil ba effectual. Wellington, August 30, 1895.