The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-05

oculated successfully If kept in warm
water. which will elevate their body
temperature to one approximating
that of the warm blooded animals. 96
to 9S degrees f.
The causes Of anthrax were for 4
long time attributed entirely TO eli
matte influence, soil. and atmospheric
parature. and they are still recog-
nized as most important predisposing
factors in the developments OF the dis
ease, for it is usually found. especially
when outbreaks over any number of
animals occur, in low, damp, marShy
countries during the warm seasons. 1t
is more frequent in districts where
marshy lands dry out during the heat
OF summer and are then covered with
light rains. Decaying vegetable mat
ter seems most favorable for nourish-
ing and preserving the virus.
The direct cause OF anthrax is al
ways cOntagion or infection of a pre-
viously sound animal, either directly
from diseased animal or through var
ious media which contain aXcretiOnS or
the debris from the body of a pre-
viously infected animal When
eliminated from the animal in the eX-
crstions, or when exposed 10 outside
influences by the death OF the animal
and the disintegration of the tissues.
the body of the rod is destroyed and
the spores only remain. These spores.
which are the germs of the virus. re-
tain their vitality for a long period:
they resist ordinary putrefactiOn; they
are unchanged by moisture, and they
are not affected by moderate heat. If
scattered with the debris of a dead
animal on the surface Of the ground,
they may remain around the roots of
the grass in a pasture, or may be
washed TO the nearest low-lying
ground or marsh. If buried in the
body of an animal dead from anthrax,
they may be washed deep in the
ground, and in later years Tin one
proven case seventeen years. be
brought to the surface and infect 9TH
er animals. They are frequently
brought to the surface OF the earth,
having been swallowed by earth
worms, in the bodies of which they
have been found
This accounts for the outbreaks at
the time of the first rains after dry
season. During the latter the earth
worm goes deep in the ground in
search of moisture; it finds the Spore
which has been washed there in past
years. swallows it, and brings it to the
surface, when the rain furnished the
moisture which drives the worm itself
from its deeper home. The virus is
carried with the wool from infected
sheep and remains in it through the
process Of manufacture into cloth The
spores remain in the hides of animals
which have died of anthrax and retain
their vitality throughout months of
soaking in the tanners pits. the work
ing of the harnesS-maker or the cob
bier and after the oiling of the COM
pleted leather. The dried spores in
the dust from any Of these products
may be carried by the atmosphere.
Infection of an animal takes place
through incubation or contact of the
bacillus or its spores with an abraded
surface or mucous membrane on a
sound animal. In an infected district
horses may eat the rich pasturage of
spring and early summer with impun-
ity, but when grass becomes low they
crop it close to the ground, pull up the
roots around which the virus may be
lodged, and under these conditions the
animals are more apt to have abra-
sions OF the lips or tongue by contact
with dried stubbie and the dirt on the
roots, which favors the introduction
Of the germs into the system. The
virus may be introduced with food and
enter the blood-vessel system from the
stomach and intestines. If contained
| in the dust. dried hay, Or on the
parched pasture of late summer, the
virus may be Inhaled and be absorbed
| from the lining of the lungs. If con-
tanned in harness leather, it needs but
an abrasion of the skin, as the har-
ness rubs it, to transfer the SpOre from
the leather to the circulation of the
animal.