ANTHRAX 



89 



marked. In epizootics where the peracute or acute form 

 ushers in the disease, the later cases usually are of the sub- 

 acute variety. It often happens that the last animals attacked 

 exhibit the subacute or more chronic form. 



Anthrax with visible localizatitvi . These forms usually re- 

 sult from infection of the skin and mucous membranes. The 

 lesions are spoken of as carbuncles and often there is marked 

 local oedema of the skin. This form is common in man, 

 horses and sometimes in cattle. It is reported to occur in other 

 species. The carbuncles are circumscribed, cutaneous swellings 

 which are at first hard, hot and painful. Later they become 

 cold and painless with a tendency to become gangrenous. The 

 oedematous tissue becomes doughy, cold and painless ; fre- 

 quently fluctuating swellings of the skin occur. The duration 

 of this form of the disease varies from four to fifteen days. 

 Ordinarily it is not so fatal as internal anthrax. 



When the infection is on the mucous membrane the animal 

 suffers from fever, dy.spnoea, difficulty in swallowing, and 

 cyanosis, together with the immediate local effects. Death oc- 

 curs much sooner than when the disease is located on the skin. 

 It is stated that dogs and swine suffer from this form more 

 than from the more acute types. 



In horses, anthrax usually runs an acute or subacute 

 form. The first symptom is rise of temperature with a rapid, 

 feeble pulse. Occasionally there are chills and muscular 

 spasms. The mucosa of the head becomes cyanotic and lacry- 

 mation is often present. The animal has a dull, stupid look, 

 appears to be stunned and walks with a staggering gait. In 

 some cases there are symptoms of cerebral congestion such as 

 restlessness or convulsions. Colic is a verj' characteristic 

 symptom in the horse, otherwise the symptoms are the same 

 as in cattle. Infection of the skin usually occurs on the 

 hypogastrium, lower part of the breast, inner surface of the 

 fore and hind quarters. Swelling of the hind quarters often 

 causes lameness. Carbuncles of the mucous membrane of the 

 tongue is said to occur rarel/ in these species. 



In sheep and goats the disease is usually of the acute or 

 apoplectic form. The animals appear as if suddenly stricken 



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