108 SWINE ERYSIPELAS 



^ 92. Etiology. Loeffler and Schiit^ '^ /' . ^ 



pointed out m 18S5 that svvme er\-sipelas was '\''\':^'/t^ / 



caused by a very slender bacterium i to 2/< ^ Ll ^^^' " 



long and o. 3 to o. 4/^ broad , straight or slightly 



curved, ends not rounded and in cultures 



often appearing in filaments. It is verv 



1,1, • r ^ Fig. 19. Bac- 



closely related to the bacterium of mouse i^-yji^n of swine 



septicaemia described by Koch in 1878. In erysipelas. 

 Europe where the bacterium of mouse septicaemia is quite 

 •common swine erysipelas prevails. In this country the bac- 

 terium of swine erysipelas has not been positively identified. 

 At three dift'erent times an organism resembling it has been 

 isolated from swine. There is much uncertainty concerning 

 the relationship of the bacterium of mouse septicaemia to that 

 of this disease. Smith has suggested that possibly the bac- 

 terium which has been found in this country may gain viru- 

 lence sufficient to produce epizootics, if such is not already the 

 case. It is exceedingly important that careful search be made 

 for this organism in the outbreaks among swine where the 

 nature of the disease is not clearly determined. House mice 

 and pigeons are susceptible to the bacteria of swine erysipelas. 

 Guinea-pigs and fowls are immune. Rabbits suffer from ery- 

 sipelatous swellings when inoculated subcutaneoirsly in the ear. 

 § 93- Symptoms. It is stated that after a period of in- 

 cubation of at least three days, the disease usually begins sud- 

 denly and violentl}-. The animal refuses food, makes efforts 

 to vomit, has a rise of temperature, manifests severe nervous 

 disturbance, is very weak, torpid and indifferent to its sur- 

 roundings. When approached it tries to hide itself under 

 its bedding. The hind quarters become weak and paralyzed. 

 Muscular spasms and grinding of teeth are sometimes observed. 

 At first there is constipation, the conjunctiva is of a dark red or 

 brownish-red color, and the e^^elids are sometimes swollen. 

 Usually a day or two after the first symptoms develop or, per- 

 haps, from the first attack, reddish spots appear on the 

 thin parts of skin, such as the region of the navel, lower surface 

 of the chest, perineum, inner surface of the thighs, ears and 

 throat. These spots, which at first are bright red and about 



