298 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



sensibility of the extremities. The fowls squat, and do not look 

 for a perch ; the bill and comb become black ; tumours, or red 

 spots, which soon become black and gangrenous, form on the 

 palms of the digits, and the animal dies in convulsions. 



PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF ANTHRAX. 



Post mortem examinations disclose very manifest lesions, whicli 

 explain the rapidity with which putrefaction has taken place in 

 the tissues. 



(1.) Exterior. — A short time after death the whole body is 

 tumefied and disfigured from excessive formation of gas in the 

 areolar tissue. The abdomen is considerably swollen from gas 

 in the gastro-intestin^l organs, and blood-clots escape from 

 the nose and mouth ; the rectum is reversed, and looks like a 

 black tumour, from the centre of which gas and tainted li(|uids 

 escape. 



On different parts of the body, notaljly on the skin deprived 

 of hair, red or mulberry spots, sometimes interspersed with 

 yellow ones, are found. 



After being opened, the body emits a very foetid odour. 



(2.) Shin, cellular tissue. — In excising the skin crepitation is 

 heard, which results from the disengagement of gas accumulated 

 in the subcutaneous areolae ; black and liquid blood escapes from 

 the parts cut with the knife. 



On the tumours and engorgements the skin is found semi- 

 detached, and its internal surface presents spots of infiltration 

 corresponding to those seen externally, and the tainted skins are 

 at these spots without consistence, and depreciated in value. 



The areolar tissue is the seat of blood and sero-albuminous 

 infiltrations of yellow, red, or black colour, which extend into 

 the interstices of muscles and to deep-seated organs. 



(3.) Muscular tissue.— YeWov^ infiltrations on the surface, and 

 to a less degree in the bed of the muscles, in the form of lines 

 which put the fibrillas in relief. The muscular system generally 

 is impregnated with black blood, which communicates this colour 

 to the whole frame. 



The normal adhesions of the muscles to the bones, tendons, 

 and aponeuroses are so relaxed that one may detach them 

 without much effort. 



