106 BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



flowed by drainage from tanneries, hides from foreign 

 countries often being infected. 



Cattle may also be infected by inoculation through 

 the broken skin, but this occurs less often than 

 through the ahmentary tract. 



The Infection of Anthrax in Man. — Butchers, 

 herders, and handlers of hides and wool are most 

 commonly infected with B. anthracis, the infection 

 occurring through the broken skin, through the 

 respiratory tract, or through the alimentary tract, 

 the disease in nearly all instances being contracted 

 from the lower animals, and not from one man to 

 another. 



The most common form of anthrax in man is the 

 malignant pustule or carbuncle, contracted by 

 handUng infected hides or carcasses. This infection 

 is usually locaHzed, and with proper surgical care 

 produces no serious results. 



"Wool sorter's disease" is a form of anthrax 

 contracted by inhalation of spores floating in the 

 air from infected wool. This form of anthrax very 

 commonly develops into a general septicaemia 

 resulting in death. 



Anthrax contracted through the alimentary tract 

 is of rare occurrence in man, and probably occurs 

 from taking food which has been infected by han- 



