GENERAL DISEASES OF THE BLOOD, 447 



accustomed to poor, scanty food, and keeping animals with open sores 

 near decomposing animal tissue are also cause of erysipelas. The common 

 means of contagion are washing erysipelatous and healthy wounds with the 

 same sponge, using the same harness, clothing, etc. 



How to know it, — There is usually some fever; the pulse and temper- 

 ature are raised; the urine is scanty and high-colored; the bowels usually 

 constipated; there is loss of spirit and appetite. These symptoms are fol- 

 lowed, in the course of twelve hours, by a diffuse swelling that is hot, 

 red, and painful ; if it is on a white skin it will be found to be shill- 

 ing, tcuse and of a deep red. It spreads rapidly, terminating aln-uptly 

 at the edges in a well defined line of demarkation. The swelling does 

 not pit on pressure ; the redness disappears on pressure, but returns 

 when the finger is removed. It is confined to the head and legs. It 

 has a peculiar smell, like that of burnt hair. 



Sometimes it extends to the cellular tissue under the skin when it is 

 known as pJdegmonous ; this always suppurates, and has a purple 

 appearance previous to breaking. 



What to do, — Give tonics and stimulants internally ; give recipes No, 

 37 and No. 35 ; if much depression exists, give No, 65, Feed on boiled 

 oats, barle}^ etc. Apply locally No, 24, and keep the part wet with 

 it continually. If the swelling spreads in spite of this lotion, paint the 

 healthy skin for two inches all around the diseased part with tincture of 

 iodine, and change the lotion to the following: 



No. 70. 1 Ounce tincture muriate of iron, 



8 Ounces water, 

 Mix. 



Keep the surface wet with it till the skin begins to be irritated ; then 

 go back to No. 24. If extensive sloughing takes place, poultice with oil- 

 cake meal, with charcoal sprinkled over the poultice, till a healthy sore 

 is obtained ; then apply lotion No. 7. If the erysipelas comes from an 

 unhealthy sore, cauterize it with powdered bluestone continuously, once 

 a day, till all signs of a purplish, unhealthy condition, have disappeared ; 

 then continue the lotion No. 7. Continue the tonics for several weeks, 

 giving soft food enough to keep the bowels loose. 



