CONTAGIOUS BLOOD DISEASES. 



457 



VI. Mycotic Lymphangitis, or Japanese Farcy. 



This disease has been k^o^vn as epizootic lyinphaiigilis, or Japanese 

 farcy; it is a chronic contagious disease, particularly of Horses, caused 

 by a specific organism, and characterized by a suppurative inflammation 

 of the subcutaneous lymph vessels and the neighboring lymph glands 

 Owing to the fact that this affection does not spread as an epizootic and 

 that its casual factor is a yeastlike fungus, the name mycotic instead of 

 epizootic lymphangitis is suggested. This disease was first described by 

 Italian and French veterinarians, and the specific organism was discov- 

 ered by Rivolta in 1873. The presence of the disease in the United 

 States was first obsei^ed by Pearson in Pennsylvania in 1907, although 

 it is probable that it has existed in various parts of this country for 

 many years. More recently its presence was definitely established in 

 Ohio, Iowa, California, and North Dakota, and there is a probability of 



its existence in Indiana and several 

 Western States. The disease is also 

 present in the Philippine Islands, 

 Hawaiian Islands, and Porto Rico. 

 Causes. — The natural infection 

 is without doubt caused through 

 superficial wounds, such as galls, 

 barbed-wire cuts, or through va- 

 rious stable utensils, harness, band- 

 ages, insects, etc. Solipeds are 

 mostly susceptible, but cattle may 

 also be infected. 



How to know it.— The inflam- 

 mation of the lymph vessels is 

 usually fii"st observed on the ex- 

 tremities, especially on one or both 

 hind leg-s ; it may also appear on the 

 fore legs, shoulder, or neck, and 

 more rarely on the rump, udder, 

 and scrotum. The lesions as a rule 

 develop in the tissue adjacent to the 

 place of inoculation. In the early stages of the disease the lymph vessels ap«. 

 pear very hard and thickened, and along their course hard nodules de- 

 velop, ranging in size from a pea to a hen's egg. Later these nodules 

 soften, burst spontaneously, and discharge a thick yellowish pus. The 

 surface of the resulting ulcers or abscess cavities soon fills up with ex- 

 huberant granulations which protrude beyond the surface of the skin, 

 giving a fungoid appearance. The affected extremities are considerably 

 enlarged, similar to cases of simple lymphangitis. In rare cases the 



MYCOTIC LYMPHANGITIS. 



