90 MORBID ANATOMY 



with apoplexy. If death does not occur within a very short 

 time, symptoms heretofore described for this form of the 

 disease may be recognized. Subacute anthrax is said to be 

 very rare in sheep. 



In swine, anthrax is ordinarily characterized by local 

 lesions on the mucous membrane of the larynx or pharynx. 

 The animals have a rise of temperature and the intermaxillary 

 space is generally swollen. The swelling ma}' spread along 

 the trachea giving rise to difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness, 

 cyanosis of the mucosa of the mouth, dyspnoea and rapid 

 breathing. The animal shows signs of paralysis. Death 

 occurs from suffocation. Frequently the tongue becomes the 

 seat of the disease. Carbuncles occuring on the skin, especially 

 of the back, have been described in this species. 



In dogs and cats, the disease usually runs a verj- rapid 

 course. The fact that thej' are usuall)' infected bj- eating the 

 meat of animals dead of anthrax causes them to suffer largely 

 from the intestinal form. It has been stated that probably 

 much of the so called anthrax in dogs was simply cases of 

 ptomaine poisoning. 



It is reported that in birds anthrax usually runs a very 

 rapid and usually fatal course. Toward the end they stagger, 

 tremble, or go into convulsions, and die with blood}' discharges 

 from the mouth, nostrils, and anus. From the first the birds 

 are depressed and weak, their feathers ruffled and wings 

 drooping. There is evidence of dyspnoea and bloody diar- 

 rhoea. Occasionall}^ carbuncles appear on the comb, wattles, 

 ■conjunctiva, tongue and extremities. 



It has been stated that the milk from cows suffering with 

 anthrax contains Bad. anthracis. The writer found in the 

 examinations made in one epizootic that the anthrax bacteria 

 were present in considerable numbers in the milk just before 

 or immediately after death, but thej' were not found in the 

 milk of animals in the earlier stages of the disease. 



§ 78. Morbid anatomy. The nature and extent of the 

 tissue changes depend upon the course of the disease. When 

 experimentally produced it is ordinarily a septicaemia. This 

 form often occurs in the domesticated animals that contract the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



