Anthrax 361 



thrax is caused by the anthrax bacillus, a slender rod- 

 shaped germ that can easily be found by making a 

 microscopical examination of the blood or tissues of 

 a diseased animal. In stab cultures in agar or gelatine 

 the anthrax germs grow readily in peculiar "frost crys- 

 tal " colonies. 



Anthrax occurs most frequently in cattle, sheep 

 and mules. The symptoms vary greatly. In some 

 cases there is an absence of definite sj^mptoms, the 

 animal dying very suddenly, with few or no premoni- 

 tory warnings. This is often called the "apoplectic" 

 form. Other cases show a high fever with delirium, 

 or severe straining associated with discharges of bloody 

 mucus from the bowels or other natural openings of 

 the body. The mucous membranes are bluish in color, 

 and there is great weakness and postration, as shown 

 by the trembling of the muscles. There are often 

 boils or pustules on various parts of the body filled 

 with a dark red fluid. Frequently there are dropsical 

 swellings on the body, with oozing of bloody fluid 

 through the skin. In man, anthrax is sometimes called 

 "malignant pustule," because it appears as a sore on 

 the face, and "wool sorters' disease," because it is 

 sometimes contracted from infected wool. 



After death, bloody or hemorrhagic spots are found 

 in the muscles and internal organs, the spleen is 

 greatly enlarged, the blood is dark, thick and muddy 

 in appearance, the veins are distended with dark blood, 

 and there are bloody fluids escaping from the openings 

 of the body. Anthrax can be diagnosed by examining 

 the blood and other tissues microscopically for germs 



