86 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Feb., 19 12. 



Acute General Anthrax is a little less rapid. Death occurs in 

 from two to twenty-four hours. During this time there is hig]i fever 

 with increase of temperature, tremors, excitement, grinding of the teeth, 

 groaning, stupefaction, or frenzy, staggering gait, spasms, laborious 

 breathing, prostration and finally the convulsions which precede death. 

 There mav be great straining to pass fagces and urine, with frothy and 

 blood-tinged discharges from the natural orifices. Emphysema or a 

 gaseous distension under the skin may also be observed. 



Sub-acute General Anthrax. — In this the features are somewhat 

 similar to those of the acute form, only that the course is less rapid and 

 the steps from one set of symptoms to another are more prolonged and 

 defined. There may be intermission of symptoms for a time and the 

 fatal culmination does not usually occur until the lapse of 36 or 48 

 hours, and it may be postponed for five or even seven days. 



Gloss-anthrax. — In horses and pigs anthrax often assumes a local 

 form affecting the tongue and region of the neck and throat. These 

 become swollen and there may be also swellings on the shoulder flank 

 and thigh, which are at first hard, hot and painful and later on become 

 doughy, fluctuating and cold. The tongue is greatly enlarged and 

 blackened and may protrude from the mouth. There is inability to 

 swallow and great difficulty in breathing. 



Post-mortem Appearances. — The carcase has a tendency to swell 

 quickly, decomposition of the abdominal contents being very rapid. There 

 is alsO' a gaseous distension (emphysema) under the skin which on pres- 

 sure gives out a crackling sound. Blood-tinged fluid effusions are noticed 

 under the skin. In what may be described as typical cases, but to 

 which there are many exceptions, the blood is profoundly changed, being 

 black in colour and remaining black on exposure to air. It does not clot 

 freely and has a tarry appearance. The lining membrane of the chest 

 and abdominal cavities is dotted with patches of blood extravasation 

 (ecchymosis) as also are the heart sac, the kidneys and the liver. The 

 heart and large veins leading from it are filled with black liquid blood 

 and the heart muscle is soft and relaxed. The lymphatic glands are 

 always congested, and may be spotted with hoemorrhages. The liver is 

 usually enlarged, soft, friable and easily broken down. The lungs are 

 engorged with blood and dropsical. The trachea and bronchial tubes 

 contain bloody mucus. The mucous lining of the stomach and bowels is 

 reddened and spotted with blood extravasations. In the spleen the 

 most decided changes are observed. It is enlarged to two or three times 

 its natural size, and its structure or spleen pulp is softened, broken down, 

 and heavily charged with blood and fluid of a deep colour. 



The appearances described are not likely to be all met with in every 

 case, in point of fact " in the rapidly fatal cases the changes in the 

 blood and tissues are often little marked " (Law) ; but even in fulminant 

 anthrax there may usually be found localizations of the described appear- 

 ances in some organ or group of lymphatic glands where colonization of 

 the bacilli has occurred, and blood or tissues from such part will be found 

 loaded with bacilli. 



Prevention. — The carca.ses of animals dead of anthrax and all matter 

 likely to have become contaminated should be destroyed by fire as 

 described under the headings "Disposal of Carcases " and " Disinfection '" 



