ANTHRAX 289 



Anthrax. 



{Charhon. Malignant Pustule. Splenic Fever.) 



Anthrax is rare in the dog, and when it occurs it is generally caused 

 by the animal eating portions of cadavers of animals that have had this 

 affection. This is an acute infectious disease which is caused by the 

 Bacillus anthracis, and is accompanied by high fever and local mani- 

 festations in the skin and mucous membranes. All forms of anthrax 

 have been observed in the dog, but generally the seat of the disease is in 

 the mouth, throat and in the intestines, and generally there is more or 

 less tumefaction of the head. One observer saw a typical case of anthrax 

 of the tongue and lips caused by an animal licking the l^lood of an animal 

 that had that disease. Another case observed was where a terrier had 

 eaten a bone of an animal affected with anthrax. Lupke found on the 

 inferior wall of the throat a carbuncle, which was probably caused by an 

 erosion of the epithelium, in which there was great inflammatory oedema 

 of the adjacent regions. In regard to the susceptibility of the dog to an- 

 thrax, one case is cited where 150 dogs ate the flesh of a horse that had 

 died of anthrax; 100 had swelling of the lips, throat, forehead and head, 

 and sixty of them died. Young dogs seem much more susceptible than 

 older animals. Different breeds of dogs are said to be less susceptible 

 to anthrax than others; this, however, is a question. When a number of 

 animals are affected wdth symptoms of anthrax, particularly packs of 

 hounds, when the dead cadaver is fed to the hounds, the proper method 

 of diagnosis would be to examine the blood microscopically and make 

 a trial inoculation of an animal that had not been near the infected 

 animals. 



Therapeutic treatment is generally useless on account of the rapid pro- 

 gress of the disease. If any treatment is attempted it may be in the line 

 of the internal administration of antiseptics, creolin, carbolic acid, salicylic 

 acid, and preparations of iodine particularly Donovan's solution. AVhere 

 the carbuncle is formed then local incisions and the injection of corrosive 

 sublimate solution, 1 to 1000, and tincture of iodine. The actual cautery 

 has been recommended to destroy the tissue of the carbuncle. Concern- 

 ing sanitary laws, the following apply to this disease: 



Animals which suffer from or are suspected of anthrax cannot be 

 slaughtered for consumption. 



Any operation that will cause bleeding of the animal suspected of 

 anthrax can only be performed under the supervision of the official 

 veterinarian. 



All cadavers of animals which are affected or suspected of having 

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