To4 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. 
