Malignant Pustule. Charbon. Wool-Sorters' Disease.
This disease is primarily caused by a micro-organism[1] which in certain localities[2] develops upon grass or stalks of grain or hay; thus it finds its way into animals by way of the lungs or stomach and goes through every portion of the body, soon causing death. Their dead bodies and everything the diseased animal came in contact with reeks with contagion. Men who handle them are extremely liable to be poisoned, and even flies from such animals may convey the poison to human beings.[1] The bacterium that causes the anthrax disease was determined in 1875 by Robert Koch, who also determined the bacterium that caused tuberculosis and cholera.
Symptoms. — Wherever the poison of anthrax enters the system, usually at some abraded point on the skin, a malignant pustule is formed on the fourth day after inoculation, and quickly enlarges and ulcerates and looks malignant, and the nearest glands become enlarged. There is general fever and great prostration, which may be followed by collapse and death in four or five days. Cases not fatal do not show general constitutional symptoms greatly, the difficulty being confined to the ulcer, which without aid sometimes heals and the disease disappears, leaving a scar.
Treatment. — As soon as recognized the ulcer must be cauterized — burned out with caustic or red-hot iron. Composition (see formulas) and myrrh must be given internally; the bowels kept open, frequent bathing indulged in and plenty of fresh air provided. Locally compound tincture of myrrh should be applied about the ulcer and, with an equal quantity of hydrastis fluid extract, placed directly in the sore. Ulcers may form in the intestines; they have so far as known always proved fatal. The extreme contagiousness of anthrax should always be borne in mind and the greatest precautions taken in handling cases. The patients themselves should guard against the poison entering the mouth.
[2] Dormant anthrax endospores can even be found in Antarctica, according to Wikipedia.