124 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS 



This term is slightly misleading in a veterinary sense. 

 The veterinarian's comprehension of a lymphangitis is 

 classically portrayed in the clinical picture of the idio- 

 pathic form of lymphangitis discussed in the preceding 

 chapter. 



Epizootic lymphangitis is confined chiefly to the super- 

 ficial lymphatics, and may make its appearance not only 

 in an extremity, but in any portion of the body surface. 

 It is caused by infection -with a yeast mold. It is a very 

 rare disease in this country, having been reported as pre- 

 vailing in a few states only. Because of the similarity 

 of some of its manifestations to cutaneous glanders, some 

 of the cases reported may have been the latter, instead of 

 the epizootic form of lymphangitis. 



Epizootic lymphangitis is a sub-acute and, at times, a 

 chronic, affection. It is presumed to be transmissible. 

 It is more probable, however, that a series of cases in a 

 given district are the result of a common or regional 

 etiologic factor. 



The symptoms are chiefly confined to the local mani- 

 festations. In protracted attacks the affected animal may 

 show some systematic disturbance, such as pyrexia, inap- 

 petence, emaciation. The duration of an attack varies 

 from one month in mild eases to seven or eight months in 

 severe cases. The infection almost invariably occurs in 

 an abrasion or superficial wound. As a result, healing of 

 the wound is retarded, and the establishment of an ulcer- 

 ated area takes place. A thickening immediately around 

 this ulcer slowly forms, increasing in size to that of a 

 goose egg in some cases. The swelling is not very painful, 

 and from it, in many directions, are cord-like radiations. 

 These are enlarged subcutaneous lymphatic vessels. The 

 swelling at the original site of infection eventually breaks 



