woolsorter's pneumonia

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Definition

Noun: * Woolsorter's pneumonia: A specific, historical term for a severe and often fatal respiratory disease. It is a form of anthrax infection caused by inhaling spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which are present in dust from contaminated animal products like wool, hair, or hides. The disease progresses rapidly from initial flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory distress and systemic collapse.

Usage
  • The term is used primarily in medical and historical contexts to describe this occupational form of inhalation anthrax.
  • It specifically links the disease to the wool processing industry.
  • Example: "Before modern safety standards, woolsorter's pneumonia was a well-known occupational hazard in textile mills."
Advanced Usage
  • The term is now largely historical and technical. In modern medicine, the condition is more commonly referred to as inhalation anthrax or pulmonary anthrax.
  • It serves as a classic example of an occupational lung disease (pneumoconiosis) caused by a biological agent.
Variants and Related Words
  • Inhalation anthrax (n): The contemporary medical term for the disease.
  • Pulmonary anthrax (n): A synonym emphasizing the lung involvement.
  • Anthrax (n): The broader disease caused by , which can also manifest in cutaneous (skin) or gastrointestinal forms.
  • Occupational disease (n): A disease contracted as a result of exposure to risk factors arising from work activity.
Synonyms
  • Inhalation anthrax
  • Pulmonary anthrax
  • Ragpicker's disease (a similar, historical term for anthrax infection from handling contaminated rags)
Notes on Meaning
  • The definition precisely describes a single, specific disease entity: a bacterial infection acquired through a particular route (inhalation) in a specific context (handling contaminated animal fibers). It is not a general term for pneumonia or other lung infections.
Noun
  1. a form of anthrax infection acquired by inhalation of dust containing Bacillus anthracis; initial symptoms (chill and cough and dyspnea and rapid pulse) are followed by extreme cardiovascular collapse

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