Genealogy Chat

Got a shock today!! received a death certificate for my 3 x gt grandfather George Bell, he die in 1847 of 'Anthrax At the back of the Neck 3 weeks' !! He was a Brewers Collector in the east end of London, I was amazed! Have had a good google, as I knew nothing about the disease, and will add a bit about it below. I thought maybe someone would find it interesting! Maz. XX

'The most common form of the disease in humans is cutaneous anthrax, which is usually acquired via injured skin or mucous membranes. A quite minor scratch or abrasion, usually on an exposed area of the face or neck or arms, is invaded by spores from the soil or a contaminated animal or carcass. The spores germinate, vegetative cells multiply, and a characteristic lesion develops at the site. In severe cases, where the blood stream is eventually invaded, the disease may be fatal. The blood stream will carry the disease everywhere around the body, and the body's defenses, plus even any other defense mechanism such as anti-biotics, will not be able to cope with the huge invasion that this would present.'

Anthrax is a very dangerous disease - I think there were plans to use it in germ warfare and I think there was some island in Scotland where it was prevalent. I know it can exist in the soil for years and years. Wnat a shock, Maz! nell

Hi Nell, yes it is VERY dangerous. there are other types too. I thought it was only in animals, so was very surprised to find it in the east end! It was used in those parcels after 9/11 wasn't it? Maz. XX

I think the spores can survive in the soil for at least 100 yrs, which is why there is still a few cases today. So, all you needed in the East End was a butcher to have buried an infected animal, or a bit of land to be dug over so that a new building could be put up. Poor chap. Jay

that's interesting Janet, he was a Commercial Traveller (Brewery trade I think), so I suppose he visited all sorts of places. sounds really horrid from what I have read on the net. Maz. XX

In humans it's often called woolsorter's disease. Strictly this is anthrax you've caught by inhaling the spores. It used to be the prime suspect for sudden death in animals. It's still endemic in some countries. The scottish island (gruinard I think) was where they tried an experiment and the whole island is was lethal for 50 years, till the government removed all the soil.

In the 1850's the numbers of deaths from Anthrax in the London area seems to be roughly one a week (from The Times archive - Public Health statistics) In 1924 an alert was printed in The Times warning of the risks of using imported shaving brushes!! (from Japan in this case)......it said that washing the brush in warm soapy water was not enough to kill the anthrax spores!! LOL That has to be the understatement of the year, surely??!! Merry

Thanks Jools and Merry - will show my sis all this on Friday - she probably knows as much about it as I did ..... nothing in other words! Maz. XX

Hiya Maz, We have driven past Gruinard island in Scotland. It has a large sign with a skull and crossbones on it saying danger!! Not a large island and definitely nothing living on it!! Sue

My brother lives opposite Gruinard Island - apparently the restrictions have been lifted and it is safe for animals - I think for humans too. Not that I'd be in a rush to go there! William

Thanks Sue and Wulliam, I had better not post the address he died at or where he is buried!!! Maz. XX

I remember at work we were sent details of how to spot it after some spores were found in a parcel bomb in America. I think someone caught it but recovered. If I remember the symptoms of the inhaled disease sounded like every other flu type virus. I think Louis Pasteur helped end it by telling shepherds to burn the carcasses of sheep who had died from it rather than burying them.

Hi Maz Thanks for explaining about Anthrax My dad caught it handling untreated hides on Liverpool Docks in the 40/50s He was lucky though, he didn't die. He was left with 3 big patches of pink on his forearm though. Looked like he had been scalded. Pam

thanks Annie and Pam! Maz. XX