Penicillin was the tradicional remedy for anthrax, in the US and else-where.
CDC still includes penicillin first in its list of treatments, altho cipro has now become the primary recommendation for adults: << Bacillus anthracis usually responds effectively to several antibiotics including penicillin, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin). >> http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/faq/treatment.asp
For children, CDC has amoxicillin, a type of penicillin, as the primary recommendation, unless the anthrax strain is penicillin-resistent: << As soon as penicillin susceptibility of the organism has been confirmed, prophylactic therapy for children should be changed to oral amoxicillin 80 mg/kg of body mass per day divided every 8 hours (not to exceed 500 mg three times daily). >> http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a1.htm
Amoxicillin/penicillin is the primary option not just for children, but also for pregnant women, and in general when there is a contra-indication for cipro. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/treatment/amoxicillinpatient.asp
Etc..... And penicillin is still an acceptable treatment option for anybody, altho cipro is now preferred in many cases.
Summary: Having recommended penicillin in the anthrax letters does not point to any place of origin, neither foreign nor domestic. Nor does it suggest veterinary experience versus medical experience.
Conclusion: Penicillin is a reasonable suggestion to have made. It is also the most widely recognized anti-biotic. If cipro had been named, most people would have said "What is that?" But penicillin is immediately recognized as an anti-biotic.
Thanks, Khan !
As you've noticed, I can never seem to remember how to spell "penicillin".
Ooops ! The anthrax mailer couldn't spell it either !!
I would guess, if the notes said "God is great !",most people in our society would have said: "Aha ! The Religious Right at work !!"
( I mention this,because at one time,much was made of the mention of "Allah".Some "experts" insisted most Muslims would say "God". Glancing at this line in the letter text,I couldn't help but notice what looked like a "hesitation mark" on the Letter "A" of Allah-suggesting the writer might have been more comfortable writing "Al'lah"-which,I believe, is the non-Aglicized way of writing it."