ANTHRAX. (Charbon, Wool Sorters' Disease, Splenic Fever)

Categories: Infectious Diseases

This is "an
acute infectious disease of animals, transmitted to man by inoculation

into the wounds, or by inhalation of, or swallowing the germs." Butchers,

tanners and shepherds are most liable to it. The exciting cause is the

bacillus anthracis (anthrax bacillus). The local skin condition is a

pustule containing the bacilli, which may also invade the general

circulation. If the germs are inhaled, there is broncho-pneumonia; if

swallowed, areas of inflammation and local death occur in the intestines.

The spleen and lymph nodes are enlarged.







Symptoms. 1. External anthrax, malignant pustule. This begins in a papule

(pimple) at the point of inoculation turning into a vesicle and then a

pustule, (blister-like pimple) surrounded by an inflammatory area (space)

with marked watery swelling. The nearby glands are enlarged and tender. At

first the temperature rapidly rises; later it may be below normal. The

fever symptoms may be severe. Recovery takes place slowly. Death occurs in

three to five days.