510 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



sponge. Where the effusion has occurred between the muscles, as in 

 the head, these are found dissected and separated from each other like 

 those of a hog's head by the masses of fat. The surface of the skin 

 is desquamated and f requenti}' denuded of the hair. Frequently there 

 are traces of suppuration and of ulceration. The mucous membrane 

 of the nose is found studded with small, hemorrhagic spots, sometimes 

 red, more frequently brown or black, often coalesced with each other 

 in irregular-sized patches and surrounded by a reddish zone, the prod- 

 uct of irritation. If edema of the intestines has occurred, the membrane 

 is found four or live times its normal thickness, reddish in color, with 

 hemorrhages on the free surface. Edema of the lungs leaves these 

 organs distended. The secondary alterations vary according to the 

 complications. There are frequently the lesions of iisphyxia; exter- 

 nally we find ulcers, abscesses, and gangrenous spots and the deep 

 ulcers resulting from the latter. The lymphatic cords and glands are 

 found with all the lesions of lymphangitis. Again are found the 

 traces of excessive emaciation, or the lesions of septicemia. Except 

 from the complications the blood is not altered in anasarca. 



Dlagnon'ts. — The diagnosis of anasarca i^mst principally be made from 

 farcy or glanders. In anasarca the swelling is nonsensitive, while sensi- 

 tive in the acute swelling of farcy. The nodes of farcy are distinct and 

 hard and never circumscribed, as in the other disease. The eruption 

 of glanders on the mucous membranes is nodular, hard, and pellet-like. 

 The redness disappears on pressure. In case of excessive swelling of 

 the head in anasarca, there may occur an extensive serofibrinous exu- 

 dation from the mucous membranes of the nose, poured out as a semi- 

 fluid mass or as a cast of the nasal fossfc, never having the appearance 

 or t3'pical oily character, which it has in glanders. The inflammation 

 of the lymphatic cords and glands in anasarca does not produce the 

 hard, indurated character which is found in farcy. 



Prognosis. — While anasarca is not an excessively fatal disease, the 

 prognosis must alwa}' s be guarded. The majority of cases run a simple 

 course and terminate favorably at the end of eight or ten da3^s, or pos- 

 sibly after one to two relapses, requiring several weeks for complete 

 recovery. Effusion into the head renders the prognosis much more 

 grave from the possible danger of mechanical asphyxia. Threatened 

 mechanical asphyxia is especial!}" dangerous on account of the risk of 

 blood poisoning after an operation of tracheotom}". Edema of the 

 viscera is a most serious complication. The prognosis is based on the 

 complications, their extent, and their individual gravity existing, as 

 they do here, in an already debilitated subject. 



Treatment. — The treatment of anasai'ca may be as variable as are 

 the lesions. The indii-ations are at once shown by the alterations and 

 mechanism of the disease, which we have just studied. 



lij'giene comes into pla}'^ as the most important factor. Oats, oat 



