DISEASES OF HORSES 79 



be direct or through the medium of infected buildings or other ar- 

 ticles. Yet from the varying severity of erysipelas in different out- 

 breaks and localities it has been surmised that various different mi- 

 crobes are operative in this disease, and a perfect knowledge of these 

 might perhaps enable us to divide erysipelas into two or more dis- 

 tinct affections. At present we must recognize it as a specific in- 

 flammation due to a bacterial poison and closely allied to septicemia. 

 Erysipelas was formerly known as surgical when it spread from a 

 wound (through which the germ had gained access) and medical, 

 or idiopathic, when it started independently of any recognizable le- 

 sion. Depending as it does, however, upon a germ distinct from the 

 body, the disease must be looked upon as such, no matter by what 

 channel the germ found an entrance. Erysipelas which follows a 

 wound is usually much more violent than the other form, the differ- 

 ence being doubtless partly due to the lowered vitality of the wounded 

 tissues and to the oxidation and septic changes which are invited on 

 the raw, exposed surface. As apparently idiopathic cases may be 

 due to infection through bites of insects, the small amount of poison 

 inserted may serve to moderate the violence. 



This affection may attack a wound on any part of the horse's 

 body, while apart from wounds it is most frequent about the head 

 and the hind limbs. It is to be distinguished from ordinary inflam- 

 mations by its gradual extension from the point first attacked, by 

 the abundant liquid exudation into the affected part, by the tension 

 of the skin over the affected part, by its soft boggy feeling, allow- 

 ing it to be deeply indented by the finger, by the abrupt line of 

 limitation between the diseased and healthy skin, the former de- 

 scending suddenly to the healthy level instead of shading off slowly 

 toward it, by the tendency of the inflammation to extend deeply 

 into the subjacent tissues and into the muscles and other structures, 

 by the great tendency to death and sloughing of portions of skin and 

 of the structures beneath, by the formation of pus at various differ- 

 ent points throughout the diseased parts without any surrounding 

 sac to protect the surrounding structures from its destructive action, 

 and without the usual disposition of pus to advance harmlessly to- 

 ward the surface and escape ; and, finally, by a low prostrating type 

 of fever, with elevated temperature of the body, coated tongue, ex- 

 cited breathing, and loss of appetite. The pus when escaping 

 through a lancet wound is grayish, brownish, or reddish, with a 

 heavy or fetid odor, and intermixed with shreds of broken-down tis- 

 sues. The most destructive form, however, is that in which pus is 

 deficient and gangrene and sloughing more speedy and extensive. 



Treatment. This resolves itself into the elimination from the 

 system of the poisonous products of the bacteria by laxatives and 

 diuretics, the sustaining of the failing vitality by tonics and stimu- 

 lants, above all those of the nature of antiferments, and the local 

 application of astringent and antiseptic agents. Internal treatment 

 may consist in 4 drams tincture of muriate of iron and one-half 

 dram muriate of ammonia or chlorate of potash, given in a pint of 

 water every two hours. To this may be added, liberally, whisky or 



