Anthrax in Man. 227 



persons must work 411 wool or textile products which are open to 

 suspicion a respirator is an obvious precaution, and this may be 

 disinfected by live steam at intervals. 



Treatment of malig-nant pustule is mainly surgical. At the 

 outset the thorough destruction of the dark central point or nodule 

 with a red hot needle or powerful caustic will be sufficient. 

 Even when the pustule is fully formed, its free excision with as 

 much of the surrounding infiltrated tissue as can be safelj' ac- 

 complished and the free application of caustics will usually suc- 

 ceed. Potassa fusa, or zinc chloride (1:3), or mercuric chloride 

 or iodide in powder with or without calomel, or pyoktanin, or 

 formaline, or iodized phenol may be named as especially applicable. 

 Injections of carbolic acid (5 or 10 : 100) into the indurated 

 centre and infiltrated periphery have proved very successful. In 

 the case of Kaloff, when the excision of the nodule followed by 

 the local use of carbolic acid solution, failed to prevent implica- 

 tion of the inguinal and pectoral glands, violent fever, prostra- 

 tion, and diarrhoea ; the excision of the affected glands and the 

 free use of phenic acid solution (5: 100) in the adjacent tissues 

 led to speedy improvement. Some surgeons make a crucial inci- 

 sion of the pustule and apply caustics freely. Muskett has been 

 successful in excising the nodule, filling the wound with ipecacuan 

 powder and giving the same agent internally. Many mild cases, 

 or those that occur in refractory systems will however recover 

 spontaneously or under a less drastic treatment. In the anthrax 

 districts of Russia mercurial ointment is rubbed on the sore, and 

 the application of tincture of iodine or iodized phenol to the raw 

 sore or incised nodule and surrounding infiltration is often suc- 

 cessful. 



Camescasse has claimed great success by incising the swelling, 

 applying tincture of iodine freely, and then wrapping in cloths 

 kept wet with a solution of 5 drachms of bicarbonate of soda in a 

 quart of tepid water. 



When systemic reaction has set in it is desirable to have resort 

 to general medication as for internal anthrax. 



Treat?nent of Anthrax CEdema must follow the same rule. 

 Free incisions into the cedematous tissues with the application of 

 antiseptics, solution of mercuric chloride or biniodide (i: 1000), or 

 the injection of the whole infiltrated area and around it with the 



