Pasteur developed the first attenuated vaccine 3 . Current interest in anthrax relates to biological warfare. The Bacillus was first used experimentally as a weapon during World War II on the Scottish island of Gruinard where it was so effective that it took until 1986 to disinfect the area using Formaldehyde and sea water. The aim of anthrax as a biological weapon is to generate the rapidly fatal pulmonary form of the disease. Bacillus anthracis is a spore forming gram-positive organism which is often a soil commensal.
Modern diagnosis is by polymerase chain reaction.
Spores are introduced subcutaneously where they germinate and multiply. Subsequent production of an exotoxin is responsible for extensive local edema and tissue necrosis. Uncontrolled intravascular multiplication with fatal toxemia may result. The manifestations of cutaneous anthrax are striking. The disease begins as a small, painless, often pruritic papule resulting from the inoculation of spores into exposed skin.