Shop Talk

by JillGat

Cecil can't possibly answer all his email, and some questions are too urgent to ignore. That's when the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board steps in.

From: CF
To: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Can you get anthrax from fucking a sheep. My brother and I are planning to double date two ewes and wondering if we should have sex on the first date.

Thank you.

Dear CF,

Thank you for writing to the Straight Dope. Boy, if it's not one thing it's another. If you were dating women, you'd have to ask about STDs. But nothing in life is free, bud. With livestock you do have to worry about anthrax. I'm not sure if ewes are likely to admit this on the first date. Here is part of an email I got from the ProMed listserv this morning:

"In their natural state, anthrax spores are found in the soil throughout Asia and Africa. In the U.S., [anthrax spores are] common in the rural soils of Texas, Oklahoma, and the Mississippi Valley. It also is often a contaminant in goat and other animal hides, and special measures are taken to protect animal skin and wool workers."

I don't know of any studies comparing anthrax risk via intercourse with goats vs sheep. You might want to send your question to the Wool Workers Association or your local FFA. Condoms clearly won't help. Maybe you could pull garbage bags over the sheep? I don't know if this would interfere with the pleasure or not.

I can't guarantee that shampooing the sheep first would lessen the risk of anthrax exposure, but a nice big bubble bath together first would have to be fun, anyway. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

JillGat
Assistant to Cecil Adams

From CF:

What do I care about anthrax in the soil? My brother and I are not hillbillies from Arkansas who do it in the dirt. We are going to a Motel 6 because they allow pets for our first double date. He thinks we ought to put the ewes in a dryer( on low heat of course) to kill any spores. We'll just tell the girls its a new in-house amusement ride for the guests and they'll never know the difference. With thick wool coats, its unlikely they will be injured. Just a little tumble before the romance begins.

[[What do I care about anthrax in the soil? My brother and I are not hillbillies from Arkansas who do it in the dirt. We are going to a Motel 6 because they allow pets for our first double date. He thinks we ought to put the ewes in a dryer( on low heat of course) to kill any spores.]]

My work as an epidemiologist is never done.

1.)Anthrax can also be found on the hides of some animals.. not just in the soil (just because they "look like good clean ewes" doesn't mean they are.)

2.)Anthrax spores are resistant to heat. Bleach would be a better preventative, though I know it's not very romantic.

[[We'll just tell the girls its a new in-house amusement ride for the guests and they'll never know the difference.]]

I don't deny that they might enjoy this (and that you might like to watch!), but I don't want to give you false security about prophylaxis against anthrax. I also don't deny that negotiation re. safe sex is a delicate issue. Swabbing your partner down with bleach first doesn't do much to garner trust. As always, you have to do a cost/benefit analysis. And for this kind of relationship-building, I think it's worth it.

Good luck, you ba-a-a-a-ad boy.