64 HOG CHOLEKA 



changes which appear in these various parts have 

 already been discussed, so for our present purpose 

 we will consider chiefly those which are of primary 

 importance in their relation to diagnosis. 



The skin is examined for ecchymoses and yel- 

 lowish-brown ulcers which sometimes appear on 

 the throat and other ventral surfaces. If there 

 is a purplish discoloration, inquiry should be made 

 as to whether it was noticed before death took 

 place. An affirmative reply suggests hog cholera, 

 while a negative one practically dismisses the le- 

 sion from consideration. Changes in the skin are 

 frequently absent. 



As we open the thoracic and abdominal cavi- 

 ties petechiae and ecchymoses are sometimes ob- 

 served in or immediately beneath the serous sur- 

 faces thus exposed. They appear infrequently in 

 the parietal pleura and parietal peritoneum and 

 are somewhat more common in the serous coat of 

 the intestine, especially that of the cecum and 

 colon. 



The kidney lesions are highly characteristic of 

 hog cholera, and they occur in nearly all cases. 

 They consist of petechiae which are distributed on 

 the surface, as well as in the deeper structures. 

 These are dark red in color and sharply defined, 

 often giving the organ the "turkey egg" appear- 

 ance. Sometimes they are so few in number that 

 the capsule must be removed in order to see them, 



