MALIGNANT PUSTULE, or ANTHRAX; WooL-tioRTERS' DIsEASE; CHERBON: AIILZBRAND. An infectious disease produced by a rod-like bacillus, the Bacillus anthracig. It begins with an acute local inflammation. General infection may result. It is a very serious and generally fatal affection. Ilerbivnrous animals are cially susceptible; less so the omnivora, and least of all the carnivora. It may occur in any part of the world. In man, the disease is always quired from affected animals. Any part or sue of an animal dead from anthrax is capable of communicating the disease. The dry bacillus call preserve its virulence for many years. and through any substance to which it may become attached the disease may be connnunivated; even the feet and prolinsees of flies which have alighted upon the diseased animal (having in its tissues the bacillus) or upon the infected produet may carry the disease. Ants and earth-worms carry it from the buried animals to the grass above. Some Minute scratch, abrasion or insect-bite may suffice for the inoculation; after this has taken place there comes. in a few hours, itching and uneasiness. A pimple and then a blister follows, surrounded by a brawny induration of the skin; and edema, with very great swelling of the parts.
The intlammathin extends along the lymphatics, and the neighboring lymph-glands are swollen and tender. There is often high fever. times, in the eyelid, and also in the head, hand, and arm, there may he very great trdema, so that gangrene may result. The constitutional symptoms are generally very grave.
The infection may be by way of the digestive tract, from eating the flesh or drinking the Milk of diseased animals. There is then intense poison ing. A chill occurs followed by a with vomiting. diarrloca, and pains in the legs and back. There may then be shortness of breath, cyanosis, great anxiety. and restlessness and con vulsions or spasms of the muscles. There may be hemorrhages from the mucous membranes. a lig,nant pustule may affect many individuals to gether, making a veritable epidemic. There is no domestic treatment of malignant pustule. A surgeon should at once be summoned. The site of inoculation must be destroyed by cautery or cal sties Injeetions of carbolic acid under the skin around the point of inoculation may pre vent the spread of the infection. Internally, qui nine and stimulants are appropriate. See CAR