A PECULIAR SKIN DISEASE IN AN EVER Nee 
By W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. 
Ss = + 
N VIEW of the fact that diseases of the elephant have received 
but scant mention in any literature with which we are familiar, 
it has seemed advisable to make special mention of an infectious 
disease of the skin which recently affected our small East African 
elephant, “Congo.” 
ETIOLOGY, 
The condition may be described as a seborrhoeic folliculitis, or 
chronic inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles, 
produced by localized infection with a coccus known as staphylo- 
coccus pyogenes. The fact that this organism is almost constantly 
present on the surface and in the sebaceous glands of the body 
accounts for the frequency with which it is found in surgical 
infections. 
The occurrence of an injury, which may be trifling in extent, 
develops a point of lessened resistance in which the organism may 
find a suitable field for its development. If introduced into the 
circulation in sufficient numbers, this pathogenic organism gives 
rise to septicemia, or pyemia. It is of interest to note that this 
same coccus is frequently present in the human, where it pro- 
duces the pustules of acne, and is concerned in the eruption of 
smallpox. 
SYMPTOMS. 
In this particular case the disease was indicated by the appear- 
ance of cutaneous pustules, which were painful on pressure, and 
which involved the entire thickness of the skin. The swelling of 
the skin gradually increased; cracks and fissures were formed, 
and the patches surrounding the pustules became necrotic. In 
some places this was only superficial, while in other parts it was 
very deep. In the former case, tough, tenacious scales were 
formed upon the skin, and in the latter the whole skin shriveled 
up right down to the subcutis, and was thrown off by suppura- 
tion. This severe condition, of large sections of skin suppurating, 
was particularly marked along the back and hips. Here numer- 
