94 : ANTHRAX 
Anthrax without visible localization. This form is generally due to 
ordinary infection presumably by spores. It includes the peracute, 
acute, and subacute. 
The peracute or apoplectic anthrax gives rise to symptoms of cere- 
bral apoplexy. The animal becomes suddenly ill, staggers about for a 
brief period and falls. There is often a bloody discharge from the 
mouth, nostrils and anus. Death usually ensues in from a few 
minutes to an hour. Usually there are convulsions. Sheep and 
cattle suffer most frequently with this form. They are often found 
dead. This is especially true in the beginning of an epizootic. 
In the acute form, the disease runs a somewhat slower course, 
lasting usually not to exceed twenty-four hours. The temperature 
rises rapidly to from 105 to 108° F., dropping suddenly just before 
death. With this there are signs of congestion either of the brain or 
of the lungs. If the brain is affected the animal becomes restless, 
excited, stamps the ground, rears in the air, bellows, runs to and fro 
and finally goes into convulsions followed by stupor and death. If 
the lungs are congested there is difficulty in breathing, more or less 
wheezing, panting, groaning, palpitation of the heart, small and fre- 
quent pulse, cyanosis of the mucosa of the head, bloody discharges, 
hematuria, staggering and finally convulsions and death from suffoca- 
tion. Occasionally there is a partial remission of the symptoms, 
followed by relapse. It has been observed that occasionally there are 
premonitory symptoms preceding the acute attack consisting of slight 
digestive disturbances and diminished vivacity. Burnett found the 
anthrax bacteria in large numbers in the blood during this stage. He 
likewise found them to be present in the blood of the more chronic 
cases during the febrile period. 
The subacute form is known as anthrax fever or intermittent an- 
thrax. The symptoms are the same as in the other forms, except that 
they are more sharply defined and the course is longer. The disease 
lasts from one to seven or eight days. The high temperature, the 
congestion of the lungs or brain complicated with intestinal distur- 
bances, especially colic, are usually well marked. In epizodtics where 
the peracute or acute form ushers in the disease, the later cases usually 
are of the subacute variety. 
Anthrax with visible localization. These forms usually result from 
infection of the skin and mucous membranes. This form is common 
in horses and sometimes it occurs in cattle. It is reported to occur in 
other species. The lesions are circumscribed, cutaneous swellings 
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