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The premises where he had been employed were inspected throughout, and
many of the skins— Australian Opossum and American Wolf— that it was
stated the deceased might have handled were examined, but in the absence of
any means of identifying those that may have conveyed the infection, a
special search for the bacillus was not made.
In the second case notification was received from the Home Office on the
13th that a market clerk employed by a firm of furriers in the City was
under treatment for Anthrax at Guy's Hospital.
Upon enquiry it was ascertained that the infection did not originate in the
City. The patient had been employed inspecting hides on the wharves on
the South side of the Thames, the hides coming from all parts of the world,
especially from Morocco and the Black Sea, and were of every description.
He had been at business during the early part of the week, and on Tuesday,
the 9th January, complained of illness and went home. On Friday, the 12th,
he was removed to Guy's Hospital, and at once operated upon. Daily reports
were received as to his condition, and the patient made good recovery.
On 10th October, 1905, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries issued a
Notice giving a brief summary of the symptoms of Anthrax in animals, and
calling attention to the danger incurred in slaughtering any animal that
appears to be ill, from an unknown cause, and the precautions that should be
taken in dressing such an animal after slaughter.
The following is the text of the Notice. It is addressed to butchers,
slaughterers, knackers, and other persons engaged in Great Britain in
slaughtering animals, or in dressing or otherwise handling carcasses of
animals:—
"ANTHRAX.
"Cases come under the notice of the Board of Agriculture and
"Fisheries from time to time of persons having contracted Anthrax
"whilst engaged in slaughtering animals, or in dressing or otherwise
"handling the carcasses of animals. In connection with inquiries made
"under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1903, into outbreaks of
"Anthrax, it appears from the Reports of the Board's Inspectors as
"regards the outbreaks which occurred in Great Britain during the
"period from the beginning of July to the end of December of last year,
"that as many as twelve persons are known to have contracted the
"disease whilst so employed, and that six of these persons died, whilst
"in one case amputation of the arm became necessary.
"The Board, therefore, think it is desirable to warn persons against
"shedding the blood of an animal which appears to be ill from some
"unknown cause, and also against cutting or handling the carcass or