CHAPTER XIX 
OTHER GERM DISEASES 
ANTHRAX OR SPLENIC FEVER 
Anthrax is a disease of domestic animals which has been known 
for centuries. It is mentioned in the writings of Moses, and 
Homer refers to it in the Iliad. It occurs practically all over the 
globe, in all latitudes where cattle are kept, and seems to be 
entirely independent of climate. Every country of Europe suffers 
fromit. Germany has lost some 4,000 cattle from this disease in 
some years and England nearly a thousand. In the United States 
the disease is also frequent, though generally regarded as less 
common than in Europe. Although widespread, it does not 
occur in great numbers of cattle as do some of the other bacterial 
diseases. It may attack the animals of a single herd and produce 
much destruction, but it is not very contagious and does not 
readily spread from herd to herd. 
Cattle and sheep are the only animals in which it normally 
occurs as a spontaneous infection. Many other animals are, 
however, capable of infection with it. Horses, goats, deer and mice 
are very subject to the disease, while dogs, cats and white rats are 
not susceptible. The disease is also found in man, and is then 
known by various names, the most common being malignant 
pustule. Mankind is, however, not one of the very susceptible 
animals and, when infected by a skin inoculation, the disease is 
quite apt to be local, while in sheep and cattle it is almost sure to 
run a fatal course. 
Cause.—The discovery of the cause of this disease was one of 
the first triumphs of bacteriology. Its exciting cause is a bac- 
terlum, Bact. anthracis, which, though first seen in 1849, was not 
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