ANTHEAX 181 



which goes with a puncture wound when anti-tetanic 

 serum is not used. 



ANTHRAX 



Anthrax, called charbon in the south, is a highly infec- 

 tious disease, which frequently runs a hyper-acute course 

 and has a very high mortality rate. It results from in- 

 fection with the Bacillus anthracis, a relatively large 

 micro-organism that is not very tenacious of life. 



Anthrax appears in various degrees of severity, from a 

 hyper-acute form commonly termed apoplectiform an- 

 thrax, to an ordinary, sub-acute, less fatal form. 



Anthrax makes its appearance most commonly in vari- 

 ous parts of the country, in what are known as anthrax 

 districts, where it usually assumes an enzootic character. 

 These districts are almost always low-lying sections, such 

 as river bottom land which is subject to annual inunda- 

 tion. The Bacillus anthracis lives normally in the soil of 

 such sections. Horses feeding on pasture are most fre- 

 quently aifected. On occasions the disease will, however, 

 make its appearance even among stabled animals. 



The manner of infection is usually by way of the ali- 

 mentary tract, resulting from the ingestion of infected 

 fodder. The period of incubation is from forty-eight 

 hours to ten days. Young animals are slightly more sus- 

 ceptible than aged ones. 



Symptoms. Hyper-acute, or apopflectiform anthrax. 

 The course of the disease in this form is usually so rapid 

 and so violent that death may come within a few hours 

 after the first sign of sickness. A horse which is appar- 

 ently in perfect health suddenly stops feeding, shows a 

 few moments of excitement and goes down in a few min- 

 utes. The animal lies in a stupor, breathing stertorously. 

 Sanguinous fluid issues from all the natural openings. 



