ERYSIPELAS. 385 
an unlighted cigar between his tightly closed lips. On leaving he washed his 
hands in a solution of carbolic acid. 
The blood and serum, or watery constituent of the blood, of animals im- 
munized against certain diseases contain substances called antitoxins, which, 
when injected into healthy animals, will give them immunity to the same dis- 
eases. Further, not only will the serum confer immunity to later infection, 
but will, if not given too late, prevent the otherwise fatal outcome of the dis- 
ease in animals already suffering from it. 
So called antitoxin against diphtheria, obtained almost entirely from horses, 
has been quite extensively used by physicians during recent years in the treat- 
ment of the human form of the disease, with quite uniformly good results ; 
and, it being evidently analogous to the disease in dogs, the same treatment 
should promise quite as well with them. But they being so rarely victims 
of it, the use of the antitoxin would manifestly be limited to cases in which 
attacks have already, but only recently, occurred. 
ERYSIPELAS. 
Erysipelas is an inflammation of the skin usually attended by fever and 
quite severe disturbance of the system. Usually, also, but not always, it be- 
gins at a part previously inflamed, or which has been wounded in some way ; 
and its natural tendency is to extend and involve large surfaces. 
The part affected by erysipelas is somewhat swollen, and in consequence 
the skin is tense, smooth and glistening. It is also hot, throbbing, and pain- 
ful on pressure. The color varies from a pale red to a bright red hue, and the 
limit of redness is sharply and well defined. 
Generally, but not invariably, the affection continues to spread for from 
three to five days, then remains stationary for a short time; after which it 
slowly subsides, and, although it may persist for several weeks, as a rule it has 
Tun its course in about ten days from the occurrence of the first symptoms. 
As it subsides the redness of the skin slowly fades, the swelling decreases 
somewhat, but still there may remain some thickening for a time, during which 
if the affected part is pressed firmly for a moment with the end of the finger 
it retains the impression, the pit disappearing but slowly. The skin is now 
covered with abundant scales or crusts, or the inflammation may have gone 
deeply enough to involve the tissues beneath the skin and cause abscesses or 
boils, or even sloughing and extensive destruction of the skin. 
After the disease has subsided the hairs fall out, but they soon grow again 
unless the skin has been permanently affected. 
While the local trouble has been going on there has usually been much 
