[Report 1929] / Medical Officer of Health, Liverpool Port Health Authority.

  • Port Health Authority of Liverpool. n 2014184020.
Date:
1929
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1929] / Medical Officer of Health, Liverpool Port Health Authority. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    samples were examined after disinfection, and all were found to be free from anthrax. The Ministry of Agriculture has drawn attention to the danger to farm animals in Great Britain in connection with the shipment in foreign ports of commodities containing the spores of anthrax. The disease is prevalent in animals in many parts of the world from which supplies of raw hides, hair, wool and feeding stuffs, e.g., cattle cake and the ingredients thereof, are drawn. Infection is conveyed to the farm by means of these and other animal substances from foreign countries, especially those places where inadequate precautions are taken or where none exist. Anthrax spores may be shaken from the above-mentioned animal products and may become mixed with foodstuffs or hold-sweepings, and thus infection may be indirectly conveyed to animals of the farm. The suggestion is made that special precautions should be adopted so that dried hides, wool, hair, &c., should not be carried, mixed with, or be placed on top of grain or feeding stuffs, and that the holds which have contained animal products of this nature should be thoroughly disinfected; further, that the sweepings of holds containing grain, etc., should not be mixed with other foodstuffs. The Ministry of Agriculture recommend the following process for disinfection :— “ Thoroughly sprinkle the compartment to be disinfected with an antiseptic solution to prevent the raising of dust. Sweep down the sides and floors; carefully collect all dust and refuse therefrom and destroy by fire. Then wash the sides and floors with strong solution of miscible carbolic acid (not less than 5 per cent, of acid) or a 3 per cent, solution of formalin, which contains not less than 40 per cent, of formaldehyde. Persons employed on the work should wear india- rubber gloves as a protection against inoculation, and also respirators.” The spores of anthrax bacillus have great resisting power, and may remain active for years unless measures are taken to destroy them.