Anthracite Carbuncle Carbon

PART A - Exposes the ideas and roots of the words "anthrax" and its links with anthracite, carbon and "carbuncle". A brief history and general overview is also given.

PART B - Presents ideas and word roots concerned with the population aspects of Anthrax.

PART C - Highlights the clinical "syndrome", mainly the symptoms - signs complex of the disorder.

PART D - Explores terror and terrorism.

Part C

The clinical forms of human anthrax reflect the point of entry of the "baterium" or "spores". The most common type of inoculation is "dermatologic" and is manifested by a "skin" "carbunco" or "furuncle". The lesion or "boil" is "boiling" hot, hard, red, raised and barely painful and may develop a corona of blisters or "pustulae" along with significant edema. In many instances edema may be the main sign. Many lesions develop a typical black cap or charcoal or carbon black "scab". The "pustule" rarely contains "pus". The site of skin lesions is often the face, neck and back, a reflection of the work hazards of those who carry "hides" on their backs. Such lesions often spread to involve deep structures of the neck. Spreading is via the "lymph" which produces lymph-adenitis ("inflammation" of the lymph nodes")! Fortunately, the cutaneous form of anthrax rarely becomes a generalized infection ("septicemia").

The intestinal anthrax attacks the small "intestine" or jejunum causing severe "edema", hemorrhage, obstruction and necrosis. From the intestine, the infection often spreads and becomes generalized and "fatal".

The third common form of anthrax is respiratory or "inhalatory" (spores are "aspired"). This form was called the disease of animal "trappers" because they were prone to inhale spores from sick animals. The "respiratory" type of anthrax infects mostly the mediastinum and often the infection spreads to become generalized and fatal. However, experience with early treatment of instances during October 2001 using modern antiboitics indicate that nearly 50% of the instances may be curable.

The above clinical profiles are based on clinical reports before the era of modern antibiotics. The "fate" of current victims of anthrax may be much improved because of the ability to provide early and vigorous treatment with modern agents.

The newest forms of Anthracosis are those resulting from biological warfare and terrorism as experienced in the U. S. soon after the September 11, 2001 atacks.

See parts A, B, and D.

Art Gallery Celebrating America

(First Installment July 4th)

Works by artists with deep feelings for our country

	Hand Picking (Carpus Carve Gather)
Burn (Pyrexia Pyre)		Popular (Population Plebs Vulgar)
(Other Gallery Installments: | A | | B | | C |)
(Gallery to be continued.)