ragsorter's disease n : 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 [syn: {pulmonary anthrax}, {inhalation anthrax}, {anthrax pneumonia}, {ragpicker's disease}, {woolsorter's pneumonia}, {woolsorter's disease}]