Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-15
PHYSICIAN CITES DANGER
OF ANTHRAX INFECTION
Dr.. William Barry Meany Says This
Malignant Disease Has Been
Known for Ages.
Visit to London Hospital Teaches
Him It Is Prevalent Among Tan
ners-Gives Two Cases.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Much has appeared in public print
about the case of anthrax at New
York city hospital. with its distressful
incidents. This malignant (pustular)
and infectious disease has been known
for ages. and the anti-anthrax serum
treatment in the human subject has
been used in practice abroad for some
twenty live years or more. This malady
lis also known as splenetic fever or
true anthrax, wool-sorters disease.
Charlton, etc, and Is one OF the most
virulent of infectious diseases that can
inf1ict human being. for among the
other organs of the body involved 10
the spleen. which becomes enlarged.
pulpy and putrid-its functions de-
yer, or true anthrax.
patient who had died from this dis
ease at Guys Hospital Uondon. Eng
land) / learned that anthrax was quite
prevalent among tanners This patient
planning of feeling sick. There was q
small pimple on the back of the neck.
The patient stated that he was en-
ployed at a wharf and his duties Were
to sort out hides The small pfmple
had become greatly enlarged in the
space of twenty-four hours, and the
glands of the neck were much swollen.
The surgeon at Guys Hospital stated
that the patient was suffering from a
malignant pustule of the neck, known
in the leather trade as a case Of char
bon" An operation was successfully
performed for its entire removal. DUE
the patient sank rapidly and died ON
the third day after being admitted 70
the hospital. The microscope revealed
a parasite usually found in hides. and
a person handling the skins SO IN
q
Itious material through any abraded
surface skin. 1
Wholesalers Wife Dies.
This second case that l hereinbelow
briefly cite was the wife of a wool
sorter, who had called to consult her
physician. The lids of her right eye
were greatly swollen and infiamed.
There was noticed on the cheek. about
an inch below the eye. an inflamed spot
about the size of pea. This spot was
very annoying on account OF the con-
slant itching. The patient was visited
by her physician at her house that
night, in company with consultant.
The swelling had extended downward
to the jaw and upward and forward
across the face to the left eye. In two
DAYS the swelling had extended over
the head and around the neck, causing
, painful and distressing choking sensa-
moned the early morning Of the fourth
day and found her in dying condition.
The post-mortem was performed thirty
four hours after death. On examina-
ton of specimens of the blood from the
body there were found SPECIFIC organ
ism characteristic of anthrax.
: How did this woman contract the ais
ease? In this case there was album
dant material in the fact that the hus-
bands clothes were washed by the de-
ceased woman to account for the origin
of the poison.
In the opinion of competent invesd-
gators into the character and origin OF
this disease. it may readily be transferred
from hides. wool. mohair or camel hair
to the human being. Indeed. all animals
wearing hair. fur, wool or feathers are
active carriers of infectious material
Might Easily Develop.
A little of this minute dust taken home
and coming into contact with favorable
conditions would develop this disease.
even though the person had no further
with the infectious ma
teriaL A small particle Of this dust
under the finger nail could readily be in
troduced into the system in the act OF
scratching or through an abraded skin.
1 thought it well to cite the two al
ready mentioned cases in a brief clinical
way to call attention to the great danger
to life in unnecessary handling Of wool.
fur, hair and feather covered animals. or
their hides. Hides from diseased animals
infected with anthrax bacilli that had
years, were found to be az infectious rs
tbexy v,or h,,rie