308 ANTHRAX. 



formed by the raising of the stratum corneum from the 

 rete Malpighi. Beneath them and in their neighbourhood 

 the cells of the latter are swollen and oedematous, the 

 papillae being enlarged and flattened out and infiltrated with 

 inflammatory exudation, which also extends beneath the 

 centre of the pustule. In the tissue next the eschar necrosis 

 is commencing. The subcutaneous tissue is also cedematous, 

 and often infiltrated with leucocytes. The bacilli exist in 

 the periphery of the eschar and in the neighbouring lym- 

 phatics, and, to a certain extent, in the vesicles. It is very 

 important to note that widespread oedema of a limb, en- 

 largement of neighbouring glands, and fever may occur 

 while the bacilli are still confined to the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the pustule. Sometimes the pathological 

 process goes no further, the eschar becomes a scab, the 

 inflammation subsides, and recovery takes place. In the 

 majority of cases, however, if the pustule be not excised, 

 the oedema spreads, invasion of the blood stream may occur, 

 and the patient dies with, in a modified degree, the patho- 

 logical changes detailed with regard to the acute disease in 

 cattle. In man the spleen is usually not much enlarged, 

 and the organs generally contain few bacilli. The actual 

 cause of death is therefore the absorption of toxines. It 

 may here be said that early excision of an anthrax pustule, 

 especially when it is situated in the extremities, is followed, 

 in a large proportion of cases, by recovery. 



(2) Woolsorter's Disease. The pathology of this affection 

 was worked out in this country especially by Greenfield. 

 The local lesion is usually situated in the lower part of the 

 trachea or in the large bronchi, and is in the form of swollen 

 patches in the mucous membrane often with haemorrhage 

 into them. The tissues are oedematous, and the cellular 

 elements are separated, but there is usually little or no 

 necrosis. There is enormous enlargement of the mediastinal 

 and bronchial glands, and haemorrhagic infiltration of the 

 cellular tissue in the region. There are pleural and peri- 

 cardial effusions, and haemorrhagic spots occur beneath the 

 serous membranes. The lungs show collapse and oedema. 



