Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-03-19
ANTHRAX OR CLARION.
Points Of Popular Interest by Harry
Morris, Bacteriologist and Assist.
ant Veterinarian, Agricultural Ex.
pertinent Station Of L. S. u.

This bnlletin IL designed In answer !,
brief form. free from technical expires
sions, all the impcrtart questions tina
come mn in the discussion If the contro
and eradication at charbon or anthrax
What is Charlton or dnthrazf Char
bon is an acute infectious disease Of maj
and animal.
History. One of the oldest disease
known to medical science.
Distribution. Almost world wide, mucl
more common in Europe and Asia thar
in America. In the United States char
bon is found in several states, but mos
commonly in the Lower Mississippi Val
ley and along the Gulf OF Mexico.
What 10 the cause of charbons A
very small germ or organism known a,
Bacterium anthracis.
What 10 a sp0re: The spore Of a germ
or bacterium may be likened in q certain
way to the seed Of higher plant. KeeI
the seed in cool, dry place and it may
be kept for years, but supply heat and
moisture and termination soon follows.
Spores will live for years in soil or water
without losing their power of Rermina.
ton. The spore is much more difficult to
destroy than the rod in which it forms,
just az the seed Of q higher plant.
Ho,0 does the land become occulat.
ed Nth Charlton germss From the car.
cases OF infected animals and also from
the excrement Of infected animals.
Ho,0 long aoill the germs live in the
grouads For a number of years under
conditions.
What are the forms of charbons Ex.
ternal and internal.
What are the symptoms Of the er.
tereal Jorms Thia form is shown by a
localized wstery swelling at the point Of
incubation. 1t will soon spread under
the skin along the course of the absorb
ent vessels. This form is usually seen in
horses and mules and may occur in man
as malignant postule or carbuncular an
thrax.
What are the symptoms Of the in
ternal tornqf Unless the animal is I'M
der the very close observation no visible
symptoms are noticed, death is very sud-
den and without apparent cause. The an
imal is seized very suddenly and with
great depression and prostration; rapid
rize in temperature and fall of same just
before death, heart action is rapid; mu-
cous membranus of eyes, nose and mouth
Of a dark and red color; solid and liquid
(urine) excrements may have blood
stained appearance. As this form of char
bon is found most commonly in cattle,
mistakes are often made in identifying
The disease; the hides are removed and
The carcasses are not destroyed as they
should he. Under no condition should the
hide Of an animal be removed during an
outbreak of Charlton without first making
} microscopic blood test for the Charlton
germs. SHINING carcass not only spreads
Infection but endangers the life Of the
person removing the hide. Many people
hold The false opinion that every case Of
must show an external swelling.
sudden deaths of animals during the sum-
ner months should be considered suspic-
GUS of Charlton unless the cause of death
9 absolutely known.
Hon. Is the first animal infested
The first case of the season is usually one
If internal Charlton caused by eating or
food or water infected with the
,erms.
How 10 outbreaks Of Charlton oc-
,ur! Failure to observe the first cases
md neglect to properly (sanitarily) dis
'ose of their carcasses are important fac
ors in the history of outbreaks. The fol-
owing examples have been selected as
TYPICAL illustrations OF the above point.
Case No. /. Dairy herd; COW died sud-
lenly, supposedly from the effects of
all, broken neck; skin was removed and
:arcass buried carelessly. Subsequent de-
'elopments indicated this to have been
Result: Outbreak of Charlton
With loss of thirty head.
Case No. 2. Stock farm; bull found
lead ;cause Of death diagnosed as ''bloat."
kin was removed and the CARCASS dragged
o the swamp and left exposed. Result:
Loss of twenty-five head.
Case No. 3. Hides were removed from
everal animals found dead in the fields
md cured with salt. Later they were sold,
delivered to the local station and thrown
Ipon the freight platform, where they
emained for come time. Teams licked
he hides for the ealt and at the same
ime infected themselves with the germs
{ Charlton. Res1.: Outbreak Of Charlton.
Case No. 4. A swelling wac noticed on
he breast OF a horse. The animal was
aken to q secluded spot on the farm and
be swelling covered with burlap sacks, |
baked in creolin. Death occurred during |
he night and the carcass was cremated |
daybreak or before the flies had an |
pportunity to feed. A blood smear was
kamined by the writer and diagnosed |
3 Charlton. Result: The only case.
Case No. 5. Stock farm; FIVE hundred
cad Of cattle. Cow found dead in the
asture. Before burning pound Of gun
over was sprinkled around and over the
srcass and touched of with fuse. Prac-
cally all of the flies were destroyed by