Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Anthrax
An′thrax
(ăn′thrăks)
, Noun.
[L., fr. Gr.
ἄνθραξ
coal, carbuncle.] 1.
(Med.)
(a)
A carbuncle.
(b)
A malignant pustule.
2.
(Biol.)
A microscopic, bacterial organism (
Bacillus anthracis
), resembling transparent rods. [See Illust. under Bacillus
.] 3.
An infectious disease of cattle and sheep. It is ascribed to the presence of a rod-shaped gram-positive bacterium (
Bacillus anthracis
), the spores of which constitute the contagious matter. It may be transmitted to man by inoculation. The spleen becomes greatly enlarged and filled with bacteria. Called also splenic fever
. Webster 1828 Edition
Anthrax
AN'THRAX
,Noun.
A carbuncle; a malignant ulcer, with intense burning. The ancients gave this name to a gem, and it is sometimes used for lithanthrax or pit-coal.