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OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



SWINE ERYSIPELAS 



Definition. — This disease, whicii is also known under the names 

 of red fever of swine, rouget du pore, and rotlauf, is a contagious 

 germ-produced disease of swine which is seen in many of the hog- 

 producing countries of Europe. Swine erysipelas is not seen in hogs 

 in the United States. The cause of the condition is a germ which 

 is known as the bacillus of swine erysipelas, or Bacillus rhusio- 

 pathise suis. 



This germ enters the body of the animal in very much the same 

 way as does the virus of hog-cholera. After an incubation or de- 

 velopment period of three days the hog is suddenly seized with a 

 chill. The animal shivers, the limbs are alternately hot and cold, 

 the visible Uning membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes become 

 very dark or violet colored, and the temperature quickly shoots 

 up to 104° F. or even as high as 106° F. The skin becomes very 

 red in color, often showing a dark or violet discoloration. Death 

 occurs very early in the disease, often being preceded by muscular 

 weakness, staggering gait, and other symptoms very suggestive 

 of cholera. 



On postmortem examination the internal viscera are found to 

 be very much congested, but there is an absence of ulcers in the 

 intestine and also an absence of the speckled kidney, so charac- 

 teristic of hog-cholera. 



Diagnosis is made from hog-cholera by the shorter incubation 

 period, more violent onset, dark discoloration of the visible mem- 

 branes, and the more pronounced discoloration of the skin. The 

 absence of the usual postmortem findings of cholera, and the fact 

 that the disease is unknown in the United States, are also im- 

 portant factors in ruling out swine erysipelas as a cause of death 

 in American swine. 



SWINE PLAGUE 



This is a disease about which there has been and is even now 

 a great deal of argument. At one time swine plague was consid- 



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