140 ANTHRAX 



or both. An edema of the connective tissues of the neck or 

 about the trachea is often very marked. 



The muscles vary in color but usually they are darker 

 than normal, and like the skin, they often become sprinkled 

 with ecchymoses. The heart muscle suffers from parenchy- 

 matous changes. 



In the larger cavities of the body, a sanguinolent fluid is 

 found in moderate quantities. Blood extravasations of differ- 

 ent sizes are seen under the serous membranes, particularly on 

 the mesentery and mediastinum. The subserous connective 

 tissue, especially on the mesentery, anterior mediastinum and 

 in the neighborhood of the kidneys, is often infiltrated with a 

 gelatinous substance. On this account the neighboring lymph 

 glands are considerably swollen, filled with serum and 

 sprinkled with hemorrhages. The internal organs contain a 

 large quantity of blood. All the larger veins and the heart 

 are filled, while the surrounding tissues show sanious 

 imbibition. 



The spleen is usually considerably enlarged (two to five 

 times its normal size), either uniformly or by prominent 

 tumor-like protuberances. The pulp is soft, more or less fluid, 

 and stained a dark red color. The capsule is always very 

 tense. It is frequently sprinkled with ecchymoses. Occasion- 

 ally this organ is slightly affected. 



The liver and kidneys are highly congested and some- 

 what enlarged. The parenchyma contains areas of blood 

 infiltration and the cells themselves manifest various kinds of 

 degeneration. The portal lymph glands often appear to be 

 enlarged, and the retroperitoneal tissue may be infiltrated with 

 a serous, gelatinous fluid. The subperitoneal tissue of the 

 intestines and of the abdominal walls may be similarly 

 affected. 



The nature of the lesions of the intestinal canal varies 

 according as the disease is intestinal anthrax, or anthrax 

 caused by inoculation. In case of inoculation anthrax, the 

 intestine is frequently normal. In other cases there may be 

 submucous and subserous hemorrhages, or swelling of the 



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