104 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



ERYSIPELAS. 



This disease is indicated by what appears to be a nervous rest- 

 lessness of the fish. They are seen swimming with very quick 

 motions, darting here and there with great rapidity, and with no 

 other apparent reason than a desire to flee from their torment, for it 

 seems that they suffer from muscular pains. After this extreme 

 activity which covers a period of several days, the fishes (for they 

 all become affected at the- same time) huddle together on the bottom 

 of the tank, now and then resuming their mad capers. 



The external appearance in this case is characterized by a closed 

 dorsal fin, bloody streaks upon all of the fins, which, moreover, 

 instead of being nicely rounded upon their extremities, as in health, 

 become agglutinated and appear like the spikes upon a catfish. The 

 tissue between the spines decays, the latter looking like the disar- 

 ranged bristles on a brush; this is the beginning of the end. 



The appetite continues in good condition, the fish, nevertheless, 

 become lean and weaker each succeeding day until death takes place. 



The cause of the disease, also, can be traced to improper 

 methods of feeding, the stomach in consequence becoming over- 

 taxed and the entire system disarranged. 



When it does appear, all the fishes are attacked at the same time ; 

 the aquarium then should be placed where it will be exposed to the 

 sunlight, the temperature of the locality being kept at about 70 F. , 

 and no food administered for about a month. Snails and tadpoles 

 should not be omitted when stocking the hospital tank, as they are 

 excellent scavengers, and by their presence will prevent a complica- 

 tion of diseases. 



The diseases described above constitute the main ones we have 

 to expect, and, with the exception of dropsy and tuberculosis, are 

 easily managed, if the treatment is carried out properly. 



