PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA 165 



physiologically important regions of the body. The pa- 

 tients frequently have a good appetite throughout the 

 entire course of the disease, although the great swelling 

 of the lips may make prehension of food almost impos- 

 sible. The edema may be so severe in the nasal region 

 that breathing becomes difficult and suffocation may 

 threaten. 



Affected animals maintain the standing position 

 throughout the course of this disease. A terminal symp- 

 tom in some eases is desquamation, occurring in patches. 



Complications. Complications are the rule rather than 

 the exception in cases of purpura hemorrhagica. Why 

 this should be is easy to understand when we recall that 

 purpura, which is in itself a serious disease, frequently 

 or almost always follows some other equally debilitating 

 disease. The affected animal has not much resisting 

 power left, and therefore easily becomes the subject of 

 invasion by other destructive processes. 



Pleurisy, with hydrothorax, is a very common com- 

 plication. Pneumonia and peritonitis are not uncommon. 

 Laminitis may complicate a case of purpura hemor- 

 rhagica. 



Other cases develop recurrent diarrhoeas ; and now and 

 then attacks of acute indigestion may transform an other- 

 wise favorable case into an unfavorable one. As a result 

 of the pain due to acute indigestion, the animal is forced 

 into recumbency and this is followed by death. Slough- 

 ing of parts involved in some of the swellings may occur 

 as a result of secondary infection in some cases. Acute 

 iritis terminating in total or partial blindness is another 

 complication that may develop. One or both eyes may 

 be involved. 



Paraphimosis, constipation or actual impaction, and 

 now and then intestinal flatulence, may aggravate a case 

 of purpura hemorrhagica. 



