ANTHRAX 93 
low temperature of the ground at the depth at which the animals are 
buried. Bollinger has shown experimentally the possibility of 
Pasteur’s views. Jarliniski and others have found that the spores of 
anthrax may be disseminated by slugs, insects and larvae which are 
found on untanned infected skins. 
Infection through the skin. In animals, this mode of infection 
occurs less frequently than in man. Anthrax produced in this way is 
usually characterized by local manifestations known as “‘carbuncle 
disease,” or “malignant pustule.” In this mode of infection the 
bacteria penetrate through wounds in the skin and exposed mucous 
membranes into the living tissues by means of infected utensils, the 
use of infected instruments, and insects, especially the house fly 
(Musca domestica). Dalrymple has called attention to the spread of 
this disease among animals in the lower Mississippi Valley by means 
of the horse fly (Tabanidae). In man many cases of the disease occur 
from injuries or cuts made at the post-mortem of anthrax animals or 
by the infection of skin wounds while handling infected hides or wool. 
Maligant pustule is reported to be quite common among the employes 
of certain tanneries and upholstering establishments where hides and 
hair imported from infected districts or countries are used. 
Infection through the respiratory tract. Faser, Buchner, Lemke, 
and other writers have shown experimentally that the disease can 
be produced by the inhalation of spores. In man this form of infec- 
tion is quite common among the wool sorters. In Great Britain, 
where much foreign wool is handled, it has been reported as causing 
as many as 500 deaths annually. It is known as “wool-sorters’ 
disease.” 
Symptoms. In anthrax, the symptoms vary not only in different 
species of animals but also in different individuals according to the 
location of the disease. Again there is often considerable variation 
when the lesions are apparently the same. The most characteristic 
features of the disease are the suddenness of the attack, the grave 
general disturbances, high elevation of temperature, a tendency to 
ecchymoses of the mucous membranes and local manifestations, such 
as carbuncles and edema of the skin, digestive disturbances, brain 
complications and difficult respiration. 
Anthrax has been classified according to its course as peracute, 
acute and subacute. It has also been divided according to the site 
of its manifestations as anthrax with visible localization and anthrax 
without visible localization. 
