176 LOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



Erysipelas is probably somewbat similar in its nature. 

 There are on record some cases of its occurrence in cattle, 

 but this point is contested. It is a specific inflammation of 

 the skin and subcutaneous areolar tissue, which sometimes 

 also affects the mucous membranes, and is considered to 

 be infectious. There is a highly congested condition of 

 the cutaneous vessels, so that the skin has a scarlet colour 

 temporarily removable by pressure. Is remarkably tense, 

 and the seat of a peculiarly intense burning sensation. 

 This spreads rapidly and terminates in resolution, effusion 

 of a considerable amount of serum (forming blebs), and 

 gangrene of patches of skin. The latter is seldom fol- 

 lowed by recovery. In phlegmonous erysipelas the 

 areolar subcutaneous tissue is involved, and deep-seated 

 suppuration is liable to occur. Treatment comprises dis- 

 infection and fomentations of affected parts, and such 

 constitutional measures as may seem necessary to support 

 the strength of the animal. This disease may attack one 

 animal several times. When there is a constitutional 

 tendency to this disorder an erysipelatous patch appears 

 around any wound and rapidly spreads. In this disease 

 the fever generally runs high. 



Diphtheria of man is attributed to micrococci, which 

 invade the system and bring about changes in the mucous 

 membranes, especially that of the air passages, resulting 

 in a characteristic highly consistent false membrane, 

 which forms casts of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. 

 When a firm cast of a passage results from deposition of 

 lymph on the surface of a mucous membrane it is a 

 crujpous layer, but when the deeper structures are involved 

 so that the membrane adheres more firmly to the surface 

 from which it is not removable without leaving an ulcer 

 it is diphtheritic. Probably crupous formations are non- 

 specific, while diphtheritic are due to special organisms 

 destroying the texture of the corium. Armatage speaks 

 of croup as having " been observed in the cow with greater 

 frequency than other lower animals,'^ and Williams men- 

 tions the same disorder as affecting " young cattle, varying 

 from a few weeks to a few months old, when kept on low. 



