658 SCLERODERMA. 



The patient exhibits no other sjanptoms, the principal functions 

 of the body appearing to be properly performed. There is no fever, 

 but in time the animals lose condition and waste asvay. 



Causation. This disease is also well known in man, but no 

 general agreement exists regarding its nature. Some refer it to dis- 

 turbance of the thyroideal function, though scleroderma is quite 

 different to myxcedema. Others attribute it to changes in the cuta- 

 neous blood-vessels, others, again, to peripheral neuritis accompanied 

 by atrophic disturbance. Nothing, however, is proved. 



The apparent lesions are limited to hypertrophic sclerosis of the 

 dermis, with progressive atrophy of the layers of subcutaneous adipose 

 tissue. 



The diagnosis is comparatively easy. 



The prognosis is grave, because it is never known how rapidly 

 the disease may develop. 



No method of treatment being known, the animals should at once 

 be slaughtered. 



