Anthrax in Man. 31 



Tm., 1885, XI, 160.— Koch, Beitr. z. Biol. d. Pflanzen, 1876, II; Mitt. d. G.-A., 1881, 

 1, 49.— Pasteur, K., 1877, LXXXIV u. LXXXV.— Pasteur, Chamberland & Koux, 

 C. E., 1880, XC u. XCI; 1881, XGII.— Oemler, A. f. Tk., 1800, VI, 401.— Koch, Mitt, 

 a. G.-A. 1881, I, 134; 1884,' II, 161.— Loffler, Ibid., p. 49.— Eoux & Chamberland, 

 A. P. 1887, I, 513; 1888, II, 405.— Kitt, Monh., 1894, V, 215 (Review on diagnosis). 

 — Sclavo, CM. f. B., 1895, XVIII, 744.— Sobernheim, Z. f. Hyg., 1897, XXIV, 301; 

 Hb. f. p. M., 1904, III; 1904, IV, 793 (Lit. on etiol. and vaccination).— Conradi, 

 Z. f. Hyg., 1899, XXXI, 323 (Lit. on toxins).— Bongert, Cbl. f. B., 1903, XXXIV, 

 497.— Preisz, Cbl. f. B., 1904, XXXV, 280; 1907, XLIV, 209; 1909, XLIX, 341.— 

 Ernst, Monh., 1905, XVII, 172 (Lit. on diag. meth.).— Oppermann, A. f. Tk., 1905, 

 XXXII, 41 (Lit.).— Gruber & Putaki, M. m. W., 1907, 249; D. m. W., 1907, 1558.— 

 Wyssmann, Schw. A., 1907, XLIX, 287 (Lit. on anthrax in hogs). — Xylander, Arb. 

 d. G.-A., 1907, XXV, 457.— Fisehoeder, Cbl. f. B., 1909, LI, 320 (Lit. on capsule 

 formation). — Hoppe, Diss., Leipsie, 1909 (Lit. on pseudo-anthrax bacilli). 



Anthrax in Man. Anthrax in man usually occurs as a local 

 affection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (carbuncle, pustula 

 maligna, carbunculus malignus) as a result of skin infections. There- 

 fore it is chiefly persons who come in contact with diseased or dead 

 animals who become affected. The persons who most commonly receive 

 accidental infections are veterinarians, herders, butchers and laborers 

 who work on hides, hair, bristles and wool. In these forms of employ- 

 ment there is also a possibility of infection through the inhalation of 

 spores, and it appears that the so-called "rag disease" or "wool- 

 sorters' disease" in many cases develops in this manner. Infection 

 takes place very rarely through the intestinal canal, as the meat of 

 anthrax animals as a rule only contains bacilli and not spores, and they 

 are digested by the gastric juice; furthermore the virus is usually 

 destroyed in the cooking of the meat. Therefore this method of infec- 

 tion only occurs after the ingestion of putrefactive and improperly 

 kept meat, or from sausage prepared from infected meat which was not 

 fresh. It is also possible that infection is transmitted by flies. 



The development of the carbuncle usually commences with a 

 lancinating pain at the point of infection and is soon followed by the 

 appearance of a bright red nodule, from which a blackish-red vesicle 

 forms, containing a reddish serous fluid. After the rupture of the 

 vesicle the breaking down of the tissue commences, whereupon in the 

 surrounding parts new nodules and vesicles form and the affected area 

 shows marked edematous infiltration. The subcutaneous connective 

 tissue, and the skin appear reddened as in erysipelas. In the mean- 

 while general febrile manifestations develop until the infection becomes 

 general and the patient succumbs from septicemia. The intestinal infec- 

 tion manifests itself in a severe (frequently hemorrhagic) inflamma- 

 tion of the intestines which is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, 

 vomiting and chills, until collapse and symptoms of asphyxiation ter- 

 minate the disease. Both forms may occur combined, and especially 

 may an intestinal infection be followed by the appearance of edematous 

 swellings in various parts of the body. Inhalation anthrax is mani- 

 fested by an acute pleuritis or broncho-pneumonia. 



The carbuncle developing after a local infection can be cured by 

 early surgical treatment; and frequently in such cases, as well as in 

 intestinal infections, the administration of immune serum is followed 

 by good results. 



Literature.. S. Kor^nyi, Nothnagel's Handbuch, 1909, V, Bd., 1. T. 



