ANTHRAX 



93 



black, and is covered with erosions and ulcers or necroses 

 which may extend down to the submucosa. The contents of 

 the intestine are bloody, and the submucosa is infiltrated with 

 a serous, gelatinous, or hemorrhagic exudate, so that the 

 mucous membrane often projects, in the form of large tumors, 

 into the lumen of the intestine. On the site of Peyer's 

 patches and the solitary follicles we may find flat or prominent 

 nodules, the surface of which are covered with diphtheritic 

 crusts. 



The lungs are greatly congested, oedematous and show 

 areas of ecchj^moses. The entire respiratory mucous mem- 

 brane is considerably reddened and affected by ecchymoses. 

 The mucous membrane of the pharynx and opening of the 

 larynx is often so oedematous that stenosis of the larynx takes 

 place. The contents of the trachea and the bronchi consist 

 mostly of bloody froth or mucus. 



The brain is often studded with ecchymoses. The surface of 

 its membranes often exhibits hemorrhages with an accumulation 

 of sanious serum in the ventricles. Extravasations of blood 

 sometimes occur on the anterior chamber of the eye and under 

 the retina. All the other organs show hemorrhages, and the 

 urine frequently contains blood. 



The blood is very dark, has a tarry or varnish like lustre, 

 and shows little tendency to coagulate. It does not assume its 

 normal red color when exposed to the air. The red blood 

 corpuscles are more of less changed. The number of leuco- 

 cytes is considerably increased. 



The bodies of animals which have died from anthrax are 

 often well nourished. Rigor mortis is absent and they decom- 

 pose quickly. Very frequently blood flows from the natural 

 openings of the body, and the rectum is sometimes prolapsed. 



All the foregoing lesions may be absent in very acute 

 apoplectic cases. The specific organism is, however, always 

 present in the cadaver. 



§ 79. Differential diagnosis. It is important not to 

 confuse anthrax with a number of non-specific disorders and 

 accidental causes of death. The suddenness of the attack, and 

 in very virulent cases, the short duration of the disease may tend 



