DIAGNOSIS. 205 



a great number of apparent ordinary boAvel affections of rapid 

 course and fatal termination, usually described as enteritis, 

 are not truly anthracoid. How often do we encounter cases 

 where a young, vigorous, rather plethoric subject, apparently 

 well and in the fullest enio3Tiient of health, is suddenly seized 

 with what in many of its features is akin to a severe attack of 

 colic, after the exhibition of only moderate abdominal pain, 

 becomes unaccountably prostrate, and in a few hours suc- 

 cumbs, falsifying a rather favourable prognosis given only a 

 few hours previously ! When examined after death, the usually 

 obvious changes are excessive sero-hajmorrhagic effusions in 

 connection with the subserous and submucous tissues of the 

 bowels, this exudation often exceedingly well marked between 

 the layers of the mesentery close to the margin of the bowel, 

 and of a characteristic yellow colour, mingled with streaks of 

 blood, while the submucous exudate is always extensive, of a 

 dark colour, and evidentl}^ ha^morrhagic. Collections of simi- 

 larly constituted exudate are often encountered in the areolar 

 tissue of the pelvic cavity, and occasionally the character of 

 the blood in the large venous channels approaches that of the 

 more determined and recognised attacks of anthrax. We 

 regret that up to this period we have been unable to so 

 thoroughly investigate the aetiology of this condition as to 

 allow us to speak positively on the subject, but hope oppor- 

 tunity may shortly occur for more careful attention to the 

 matter. 



In determining the nature of suspicious cases, when there is 

 some probability that anthrax is the disease with which we 

 are dealing, due attention must be given to the existence of 

 certain influences and surrounding circumstances, as well as to 

 the symptoms and astiology ; whether the case is an individual 

 and isolated one, or an indication of some generally disturbing 

 element at work and attacking a number of animals ; whether 

 anthrax exist in the district among other species of animals, 

 and if the affected have been in any way exposed to the virus 

 of the diseased, if cases have occurred. It is also advantageous 

 to know the history of disease in the neighbourhood, and that 

 if anthrax has, at some previous time, been known in the 

 locality, a great source of infection may at any time, for a 

 lengthened period, be started by the disturbance of soil where 



