Synonyms:—Charbon; malignant pustule; carbuncle; splenic fever.
These synonyms are apt to be confusing, as they confound this
disease with better known diseases of the same name, not caused
by this bacillus. Definition:—A disease usually affecting
herbivorous animals primarily, and conveyed from them directly
to omnivorous animals or to man. It is very seldom conveyed by
direct infection from man to man. It is caused by a specific
bacillus, the bacillus anthracis. Etiology:—This is a not
uncommon infectious disease in animals; at one time it affected
entire herds, but now it is early diagnosed, and it is stamped
out by destroying the first infected animals. From animals the
disease is not readily conveyed to man, but in the handling of
hides and in working in wool infection is directly acquired. The
micro-organism may be inhaled or taken in with the food and
drink, in which cases there are acute constitutional phenomena.
The entire group of symptoms constitutes wool sorters* disease.
More commonly the infecti