1910 — Anthrax, CA, CO, DE, IN, ME, MD, MA, NY, OH, and esp. PA (7) — 22
–10 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin…United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1820, p. 58.[1]
California (3)
–1 Fresno Dec 28 Barber, aged 52. Anthrax, septic abscesses and pyemia.[2]
–1 Pomona Dec 8 Farmer Age 72 Anthrax
–1 San Francisco Jan 11 Tannery laborer Age 24 Anthrax
Colorado (1)
–1 La Junta Oct 2 Ranch foreman Age 46 Anthrax
Delaware (2)
–1 Wilmington Jan 10 Leather worker Age 50 Anthrax
–1 Wilmington June 4 Leather worker Age 17 Anthrax
Indiana (1)
–1 Pierceton Apr 1 Law and farming Age 52 Anthrax, heart failure
Maine (1)
–1 Kittery Dec 29 Farmer, age 24. Septicemia with malignant pustule.
Maryland (1)
–1 Baltimore Dec 2 Mixing animal hair in machines. Age 62. Anthrax; toxemia
Massachusetts (2)
–1 Boston Jan 29 Freight handler Age 34 Anthrax, septicemia
–1 Holyoke Aug 20 Bleach boy in paper mill rag room, age 15. Anthrax; sepsis.
New York (2)
–1 Elmira Jan 2 Tannery carpenter Age 39 External anthrax.
–1 “ Dec 22 Leather co., hide handler. Age 46 External anthrax[3]
Ohio (2)
–1 Fairport Oct 13 None Age 4 Anthrax; bowel disease
–1 Jackson March 8 Housewife Age 68 Anthrax, septicemia
Pennsylvania (7)
–1 Greensburg June 29 Paper mill worker Age 34 Anthrax[4]
–1 Howe July 19 Paper mill worker Age 52 Anthrax[5]
–1 Newcastle Dec 19 Baker Age 78 Anthrax
–1 Philadelphia Feb 15 Tannery laborer Age 32 Anthrax
–1 “ Aug 8 Not reported Age 60 Anthrax/bronchitis
–1 Reading Apr 22 Cigar maker (female) Age 49 Anthrax
–1 Williamsport March 28 Raw sheep wool worker, 51 Anthrax
Narrative Information
Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Anthrax is primarily a disease of animals such as cattle and sheep, but is transmitted to man in a number of industrial pursuits. Included among those who have died of it in this country are hide and skin handlers and other tannery employees, longshoremen, wool-sorters, hair workers, brush makers, paper makers, farmers, ranchmen, liverymen, and veterinarians. Among nonfatal cases reported in several States and by a number of hospitals the same groups of occupations are strongly represented. Infection has even taken place in a carpenter, a steam fitter, and a stationary engineer, all of whom worked in tanneries, and in a customhouse official who weighed hides and wool on the docks. In some non-occupational cases the disease has been spread by insects and by pet animals which had been feeding on diseased carcasses, and during the war period the necessary shaving brush appears to have lost its harmlessness and to have caused an alarming number of cases, in military as well as in civil life….
“The bacillus of anthrax is one of the largest and most easily recognized of disease-producing organisms, and its discovery about the middle fo the last century marks the beginning of modern bacteriology. The bacillus, however, is not so much to be feared as a cause of disease as the sport, which is so resistant that it is used as a test object for standardizing germicides. The spore can survive for as long as 17 years without nutriment, is easily carried about, and when provided with a favorable environment rapidly germinates and sets up a focus of infection.”
“In man contagion commonly occurs through an abrasion of the skin, resulting in the so-called ‘malignant pustule’ or in ‘malignant edema.’ Woolsorter’s disease, or pulmonary anthrax, is a less frequent but almost invariably fatal form of the malady, caused by inhaling dust or particles of hair or wool from diseased animals….” (pp. 5-6)
“The most effective American provisions on the subject are contained in joint administrative orders of the Federal Departments of the Treasury and Agriculture, which, beginning January 1, 1917, prohibited the importation of hides, hoofs, wool, hair, or other products from animals affected with anthrax and established detailed requirements for the disinfection of these products if imported from districts where anthrax is prevalent and for th disinfection of conveyances of certain premises. The period during 1915 and 1916 when much laxer requirements were in force corresponded roughly with a period of extremely high anthrax frequency, especially among longshoremen and tannery employees, and the connection would seem to be more than accidental.” (p. 7)
Source
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (Bulletin No. 267). “Anthrax as an Occupational Disease,” by John B. Andrews, and “Table 6. — Deaths from Anthrax Reported in the United States, 1910 to 1917 {Data drawn from official certificates of death.}.” Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, July 1920. Google preview accessed 6-4-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=7rRIAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=anthrax&f=false
[1] “Table 6. — Deaths From Anthrax Reported in the United States, 1910- to 1917. {Data drawn from official certificates of death.}.” This number reflects the minimum of anthrax deaths. The authors note they were continuing to receive updates on fatal cases from the Census Bureau and other channels. In addition, given the ignorance concerning anthrax and confusion concerning deaths due to anthrax and other causes, not all death certificates of anthrax victims would have been recorded as such.
[2] Blood poisoning caused by the spread in the bloodstream of pus-forming bacteria released from an abscess.
[3] And general toxemia.
[4] And Septic intoxication (or blood poisoning).
[5] From skinning a dead cow with anthrax.