aSDEMATOUS ERYSIPELAS. 485 



with, and generally succeeds wounds of the extremities in 

 horses debilitated by hard work, bad keep in young plethoric 

 animals, or in those tainted by glanders, animal malaria, or 

 septic infection. 



Symptoms. — In an indefinite period, but generally about 

 the third or fourth day after the infliction of an injury — more 

 particularly if such be on a depending part of the body — the 

 skin in the immediate neighbourhood of the wound is found 

 swollen, smooth, shining, hot, tender, and painful ; the swelling 

 gradually extends from the wound, embracing in some instances 

 the whole superficies of a limb in the course of a few hours. 

 The swollen surface pits on pressure where much areolar tissue 

 is found, but where the subcutaneous tissues are hard and firm, 

 the impression of the finger is not so well defined. 



Vesication sometimes occurs, but this is not a constant 

 symptom, and is succeeded by some amount of desquamation, 

 more particularly at the flexures of the joints. The local 

 manifestation of the erysipelatous inflammation is accompanied 

 by some degree of constitutional disturbance ; the pulse becomes 

 quick, rigors are present ; the animal is " fevered," as it is com- 

 monly expressed, loses its appetite, and pain is manifested by 

 lameness if the disease be in a limb. 



PHLEGMONOUS ERYSIPELAS. 



This is a much more violent form than the oedematous, and 

 is expressed by a great amount of constitutional disturbance, 

 partaking of a typhoid character ; the tendons and ligamentous 

 structures, the fascia of adjacent muscles, as well as the skin 

 and subcutaneous areolar tissue, become involved in the inflam- 

 mation ; the pain is excessive, the swelHng is hard, tense, and 

 occupies a large extent of surface. In a variable period, 

 purulent collections form in the subcutaneous areolar tissue, or 

 more deeply between the tendons, ligaments, and fasciae, which 

 on being opened discharge a watery pus, which may be mixed 

 with shreds, or, in more aggravated cases, with masses of 

 gangrenous tissue. The systemic disturbance is severe ; rigors 

 are frequent; pain is acutely felt; the pulse becomes small, 

 quick, and feeble ; the respirations hurried ; the bowels generally 

 constipated, the feeces covered with mucus, and the urme 



