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"skin of any animal which has died suddenly, until careful inquiries
"have been made with a view to see whether or not any symptoms* of
"Anthrax had been exhibited during life. Should there appear to be
"any reason to suspect the presence of Anthrax, it is very desirable
"that the slaughter of the animal or the dressing of the carcass
"should not be commenced until steps have been taken to investigate
"the cause of illness or death, and that the owner should be warned of
"the grave risk to human life which might without such investigation
"be incurred.
"If the course above indicated be followed in suspicious or doubtful
"instances, material assistance would thus be rendered to the respective
"Authorities concerned in dealing with this very dangerous disease in
" man and in animals.
"* The symptoms of Anthrax may be summarised as follows:— The disease
"shows itself suddenly. It is very fatal, usually within 48 hours. It does not
"often in the United Kingdom spread with rapidity from animal to animal, but it
"may affect a number o£ swine at the same time if they have been fed on anthrax
"flesh or organs. A beast which a short time before appeared to be well is found
"dead or in a dying condition. Frequently blood oozes from the nostrils and the
"anus. In cattle there are no typical symptoms, but in horses and pigs the region
"of the throat is often found to be swollen.
"After death the carcass is swollen. Blood is found around the nostrils and
"anus. The muscles are often infiltrated with blood at certain points. The lungs
"and glands are congested. The spleen is very much enlarged; it is softer and
"darker than normal, and its substance usually resembles tar."
Instructions were given for a copy of this Notice to be posted in each
slaughterhouse in the City.
SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE BY VAGRANTS.
The consideration of this question was initiated in October, 1904, when
your Medical Officer was appointed to represent the Corporation at a
Conference held at Spring Gardens under the auspices of the London
County Council. The meeting was convened with the view of determining
how best to prevent the spread of Small-pox throughout the country by
vagrants. The Sanitary Committee have been acquainted from time to time
with the details of the deliberations both of the Conference and of the
Committee to whom active measures were delegated, and the following is a
summary of the whole proceedings, which terminated in June, 1905,
with no other result than the sympathetic reception by a Minister,
now out of office, of a deputation representing the Conference, and associations
of public bodies interested in the subject.