F. C. MINETT
107
ble III and Figs. 1 and 2 show the rate of
ne of temperature under different condi-
It is seen that at 61-65°F. small carcases,
of rabbits take about 12 hours to cool to air
erature; at the same temperature larger
cases, viz. of goats and sheep take about 24
s. At higher air temperatures, e.g. 88ºF.,
cool more slowly taking about 18 hours,
e at temperatures not far above freezing
t about 40 hours elapse. Cooling is always
t rapid in the first six hours or so. The effect
tir temperature is seen by comparing the
bulls in Fig. 2, and sheep 6 and 7 in Fig. 1.
m the shade temperature rises after the body
cooled, the body temperature again starts
ise. Carcases exposed to the sun can become
hot (Fig. 2). The times stated are for a
ll number of carcases and, it must be emphasiz-
relate to a well-protected area in the centre of
body; peripheral parts will of course cool
e quickly.
DISCUSSION
Mulliplication of pathogenic organisms in
ases. Minett and Dhanda [1941] were unable
show that anthrax or blackquarter bacteria
tiply in soil or in water. The extent of multi-
ation in the tissues after death was a matter
further enquiry. This subject has some special
ortance in India, where the warm climate
ours retention of body heat in the freshly-dead
nal. This clearly has the effect in the case
blackquarter of promoting bacterial multi-
ation and early sporulation. Since it must
quently happen that some hours elapse before
cases are disturbed by carrion feeders, larger
bers of bacteria, (such as, Clostridia, Pasteurella)
be available for distribution than would
erise be the case. The time of day at which
th occurs will also obviously be of consequence.
h anthrax, multiplication of bacilli in the
case was not proved to occur, while on the
er hand a higher temperature will presumably
our their more rapid disintegration. Like-
c, Nunokawa [1910], although his work was
inly concerned with another problem, mentions
t no substantial multiplication of the anthrax
illus could be detected in the dead bodies of
ill laboratory animals at 37°C.
No data of a quantitative nature bearing on
subject have been seen in the literature,
ugh some observations relating to black-
rter are available. In two papers by Foth
[1909, 1910] blackquarter is considered, mainly
from the standpoint of differential diagnosis
from other diseases of cattle due to Clostridia.
He reported incidental observations pointing
to growth of the organism in the dead body. Thus
with guinea-pigs smears of liver, spleen and kidney
from the freshly-dead animal show only a few
single rods. After the carcases have lain at room
temperature for six hours they are more numerous.
At the warmer time of the year there is an abundant
increase, though not equally so in all organs and
fluids. For this reason, blackquarter carcases
undergo putrefaction more slowly, the apparent
putrefaction being due to the gas-forming property
of the blackquarter organism. In the liver
and other organs and the blood the organism
sporulates very quickly, especially in the warmer
season. Warringsholz and Raszfeld [1924] give
a good description of the post-mortem changes
occurring in the liver of cattle in blackquarter.
Shortly after death the organ is brown-red,
blood-rich and soft; some hours later, the liver
is dry and contains grey porous pea-sized foci.
By 24 hours after death these foci are
the size of walnuts or larger, have an ochre
tint and a foam-like porous structure. Still
later, the whole organ is foamy. Cohrs [1927],
dealing with the histology of the liver of cattle
dead of blackquarter, states that since the frothy
condition of the liver is due to gas production
by the organism, some multiplication in that
organ must take place. He points out that
temperature conditions in the slowly-cooling
bodies of large animals are favourable for growth
of the bacteria, especially in the liver and kidney
which are well-protected. There can, therefore,
be little doubt that in the case of blackquarter
multiplication takes place after death and
prior to sporulation, and the object of work
reported in this paper has been to attempt some
quantitative expression of the occurrence. No
doubt, the results with sheep will apply a fortiori
to cattle. One point concerns the duration of
the illness. As pointed out by various observers,
blackquarter is a septicaemic condition. Leclain-
che & Vallée [1900] state that, if animals die
quickly from this disease, sporulation may not
have occurred.
This is certainly true of ex-
perimental blackquarter in sheep and guinea-
pigs, so far as the blood is concerned. It may
further be remarked that these animals often
do not die suddenly but are moribund for several
hours, a fact which probably influences the state
B