Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-23
EDITOR
Facts About Anthrax

In view of the recent advent of anthrax among
cattle for the first time in Hawaiian history, attend
Iei Immediately by a Csc in an exposed human sub
ject any authoritative information upon the nature
of the pestilence should be of public service.
Only this year the federal bureau of labor stats
tics has issued bulletin on anthrax as an occu
pationa disease. Some of the facts given in this
document are such as might reassure people here
who might have been disposed to panic over the
seizure of a man by the disease within few hours
after its discovery among dairy animals At the
same time the proved danger of the presence of an
thrax in either dairy or stockmens herds to persons
having to handle the animals or their products is
evidently not slight, fact that should compel
strongest measures for stamping out the infection
as we'll as for preventing fresh visitltions.
It will undoubtedly be surprising to everybody
here, with the possible exception of medical men
and veterinarians, to know that anthrax among
human beings has been far from uncommon in the
states To quote from the bulletin already men
toned:
"The relative importance of anthrax is shown by
the fact that for every five deaths from lead poison
ing reported in the United States registration area
there is one death from anthrax and that the total
number of anthrax cases is about five times the
number of fatalitie-. One Delaware physician was
able to furnish, from his own practise, data on 4S
cases treated within six years. During the same
period single Philadelphia hospital treated 30
cases. six of which were fatal In three years one
state workmen's compensation commission passed
upon 80 claims arising from this occupational dis
ease"
1t is stated that "a sudden and startling increase
in the number of illnesses and deaths from anthrax
in the United States drew public attention to this
occupational disease during the closing months of
1915 and the early part of 1916" most of the in
crease having taken place in seaports and tannery
towns of New York, Massachusetts and Pennsyl
vania. Although primarily a disease of animals
such as cattle and sheep, anthrax is transmitted to
man in a number of industrial pursuits. "Included
among those who have died of it in this country,
the bulletin says "are hide and skin handlers and
other tannery employees, longshoremen woolsorters
hair workers, brush Makers paper makers, farmers
liverymen and veterinarians. Among
nonfatal cases reported in several states and by
number of hospitals the same groups of occupations
are strongly represented" It is mentioned that in
lection has even taken place in mechanics working
in tanneries whose jobs did not involve the han
ding of hides, etc A case reported is that of |
customs official who weighed hides and wool on the
docks. In some non-occupational cases the disease
has been spread by insects and by pet animals
which had been feeding on diseased carcasses.
While the danger to human life from contact
with this malady should not be minimized, yet the
official bulletin in question presents a caution
against its being magnifed, saying "Many exagger-
aed ideas of the deadiness of the disease have been
current but it is now known that the vast majority
Of cases end in recovery" Comment is made, how
ever, on the backwardness Of American authorities
in combating the disease compared with those of
European countries
There is great deal of historical information on
the disease as we'll as advice regarding its treat
ment and prevention, in the bulletin, but even
summary of such data is beyond the scope of any
single editorial mention. Enough has been pre-
sented though, to make it evident that the actual
presence of anthrax in Hawaii is one of the most
serious matters with which the government and the
people are confronted. No effort can be too great
for its extirpation and the prevention of fresh in
lection. /
An article in the Review of Reviews on the ma