170 ERYSIPELAS. 



surface, so marked in erysipelas, is not so prominent in 

 farcy. 



With lymphangitis it has certain resemblances, particularly 

 in the early stages of both affections ; as the diseases progress, 

 however, there is little danger of their being confounded, while 

 all through their respective courses there are certain dis- 

 tmguishing features. In lymphangitis the swelling, heat, and 

 tenderness appear first in the inguinal region, and after a time 

 extend downwards ; in erysipelas the same local conditions 

 almost invariably originate in the vicinity of the hock, or 

 between that joint and the fetlock, and extend in both direc- 

 tions. There is rarely any exudation from the skin in ordinary 

 lymphangitis, and never any of the vesication, local gangrene 

 and sloughing sores so characteristic of erysipelas; nor is there 

 any liability to structural changes in the membrane of the 

 mouth and upper air-passages. 



Treatment. — Acting upon the understood and admitted 

 inflammatory and febrile character of erysipelas, the whole of 

 those remedial agents known as antiphlogistics, the principal 

 of which are blood-letting and purging, have been emplo3^ed 

 and carried to their fullest extent, without, however, I believe, 

 such success as will warrant their recommendation ; by some 

 they are even yet advocated as superior to aught else. Now 

 although it may be true — notwithstanding the doubts as to the 

 universality of its truth — that these are the legitimate means 

 whereby inflammatory action, whenever occurring, may be 

 successfully combated, it is even now certain that their indis- 

 criminate employment, even moderately, in every case of 

 erysipelas is attended with anything but desirable results. 



In actual practice it is found that the exhibition of pur- 

 gatives, and especially the abstraction of blood, is borne with 

 impunity only in young or strong subjects, and when the 

 fever is of the sthenic or active type, and at its very outset. 

 In other circumstances, i.e. where the animals suffering are 

 old, or previously debilitated, or subjected to depressing 

 influences, or where the fever is in its second stage, or is from 

 its outset of a rather asthenic type, their employment is pro- 

 ductive of decidedly dangerous results. In robust cases at the 

 commencement of the fever, bilious symptoms, indicative of 

 derangement of the digestive organs, being almost invariably 



