Splenic fever

splenic fever
    n 1: a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and
         sheep); it can be transmitted to people [syn: {anthrax},
         {splenic fever}]
    

Splenic \Splen"ic\, a. [L. splenicus, Gr. splhniko`s; cf. F.
   spl['e]nique.] (Anat.)
   Of or pertaining to the spleen; lienal; as, the splenic vein.
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   {Splenic apoplexy} or {Splenic fever}. (Med.) See {Anthrax},
      n., 3.
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Anthrax \An"thrax\ ([a^]n"thr[a^]ks), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'a`nqrax
   coal, carbuncle.]
   1. (Med.)
      (a) A carbuncle.
      (b) A malignant pustule.
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   2. (Biol.) A microscopic, bacterial organism ({Bacillus
      anthracis}), resembling transparent rods. [See Illust.
      under {Bacillus}.]
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   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}.
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