Changes

'''Anthrax''' is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis.'' Anthrax most commonly occurs in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans.

'''Anthrax''' is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis.'' Anthrax most commonly occurs in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans.

Anthrax is important in the history of medicine. In 1875, the pioneering bacteriologist [[Robert Koch]] convincingly proved for the first time that a particular disease, anthrax, was caused by a specific bacterium. Koch's proof involved performing four steps, which have become known as [[Koch's postulates]]:

Anthrax is important in the history of medicine. In 1875, the pioneering bacteriologist [[Robert Koch]] convincingly proved for the first time that a particular disease, anthrax, was caused by a specific bacterium, ''Bacillus anthracis.'' Koch's proof involved performing four steps, which have become known as [[Koch's postulates]]:

*The microbe must always be present in animals showing the disease, and never in healthy animals.  

*The microbe must always be present in animals showing the disease, and never in healthy animals.  

*It must be possible to isolate the microbe and grow it in pure culture.

*It must be possible to isolate the microbe and grow it in pure culture.

*Inoculating a healthy animal with the cultured microbe must cause the animal to develop the disease.

*Inoculating a healthy animal with the cultured microbe must cause the animal to develop the disease.

*It must be to isolate the microbe from the infected animal, culture it, and show that it is the same kind microbe with which it had been inoculated.

*It must be to isolate the microbe from the infected animal, culture it, and show that it is the same kind microbe with which it had been inoculated.