Symptoms. Treatment. Necrobacillosis of Sheep. 881 



sensitiveness diminishes to complete anesthesia. If the process 

 remains more superficial, only the epidermis of the stiff and 

 dry skin dies and is thrown off in thick lamellae from the cutis, 

 which is then covered by a fresh outer skin. 



If, however, the necrotic process extends more deeply, the 

 skin in its whole thickness turns into a black, dry, parclnnent- 

 like layer, round about which acute inflammation may often be 

 noticed. The pus exuding from this inflamed wall separates 

 the dead portion of skin, which is Anally cast off, and the ul- 

 cerated surface remaining in its place heals by granulation and 

 cicatrization, unless a general infection is associated with the 

 inflammation. In more severe cases the necrotic inflammation 

 extends still deeper, to the tendons and ligaments, whereupon 

 a purulent ichorous process arises in the neighboiing joints, 

 which leads to destruction of the joint surfaces and finally to 

 general infection by metastasis. This course is especially to 

 be feared on the extremities of horses, cattle and sheep, and 

 even if no fatal pyemia or septicemia intervenes, the animal 

 becomes quite useless because the joints become stiff or the 

 cicatrices contract very much, thus interfering with motion. 



In many cases of wound infection the inflamed skin changes 

 to a greasy, pulpy, dirty colored mass (Gangrgena humida). 

 The process can be arrested after a time even in these cases, 

 and after throwing off of the necrotic tissue, a healthy granula- 

 tion tissue develops, followed by cicatrization, while in other 

 cases a general infection is associated at times with the local 

 complaint. 



In dry necrosis (mummificatio) the skin alone or together 

 with its subjacent layers becomes insensitive without exhibiting 

 any inflammatory symptoms; the skin shows a black, dry ap- 

 pearance, while under it the tissue is hemorrhagically infil- 

 trated. Finally the dead portion is cast off from the living 

 tissue by sloughing. 



Treatment. In commencing gangrene the friction of the 

 affected parts of the skin with desiccating (lead, zinc oxide) or 

 disinfecting (iodoform, carbolic, boracic) ointments, seems in- 

 dicated. The dead parts should be removed with the knife and 

 the remaining ulcerous surfaces treated according to the rules 

 of surgery. Sloughing is hastened through the production of 

 hyperemia by means of warm fomentations and poultices. 



Literature. Cuille, Eev. gen., 1905, VI, 457.— Frohner, Monh., 1901, XTI, 

 205.— Jensen, D. Z. f. Tm., 1892, XVIII, 40, 272.— Paszotta, Monh., 1901, XII, 

 ■ 256.— Seqiiens, Vet., 1896, 471.— Tatray, ibid., 1895, 161. 



Necrobacillosis of Sheep. Skin necroses caused by the bacillus 

 necrophoriis occur especially in sheep, and not infrequently in enzootic 

 extension. The respective cases of disease have been designated vari- 

 ously, according to the localization of the lesions. (Concerning the 



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