INFECTIOUS DISEASES 125 



may become so stunted and diseased that it is best 

 to destroy them. Death often occurs. 



Lesions. — The diseased changes in the tissues 

 depend on the character of the symptoms and the 

 duration of the disease. 



In acute cases of only a few days' duration, 

 hemorrhagic lesions predominate. The lymphatic 

 glands, especially those in the region of the intes- 

 tines, are a deep red color and infiltrated with 

 blood. The spleen may also be engorged with 

 blood and softened. Small, red, hemorrhagic spots 

 may be present in the kidneys, heart and other in- 

 ternal organs, and the lining membrane of the 

 thoracic and abdominal cavities may show hem- 

 orrhagic areas. Inflamed reddened areas on the 

 lining membrane of the stomach and intestines 

 form a constant lesion of disease. Sometimes, 

 these hemorrhages into the tissue beneath the 

 mucous membrane are so great as to raise it and 

 give it a thickened appearance. Lesions of the 

 same character may appear in the skin and under- 

 lying tissues, and in light-skinned hogs these 

 blotches are very noticeable and become more 

 prominent after death. They are so characteristic 

 that meat inspectors can idsntify the carcass of a 

 hog having had hog cholera, when hanging upon 

 the gambrel in the abattoir. 



The above leisons are caused by the hog cholera 

 bacilli accumulating in the capillary blood vessels, 

 plugging them and shutting off the circulation of 

 blood in the part. The involved parts soon lose 



