Men whose reputation is now worldwide first became known by their work in this disease.

It was a favorable disease for investigation, being a disease primarily of cattle, but occasionally appearing in man, and the susceptibility of laboratory animals made possible experimental study.
Anthrax is a disease of domestic cattle affecting particularly bovine cattle, horses and sheep, swine more rarely.

The disease exists in practically all countries and has caused great economic losses.

There are no characteristic symptoms of the disease; the affected cattle have high fever, refuse to eat, their pulse and respiration are rapid, they become progressively weaker, unable to walk and finally fall.

The disease lasts a variable time; in the most acute cases animals may die in less than twenty-four hours, or the disease may last ten or fourteen days; recovery from the disease is rare and treatment has no effect.