60 



CHAPTER Vn. 

 MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 



HEMOBEHAGICA— PURPURA— PETECHIAL FEVER. 



This is an acute, infectious disease, the pathology of which is 

 as yet unknown. It is characterized by numerous petechia 

 (reddish spots) on the skin, and mucous membranes, to which 

 phenomena are soon added swelling of the skin and mucous 

 membranes and infiltration (an exudation) of the subcutaneous 

 (under the skin) connective tissue. Sometifnes it is primary? in 

 other instances it follows other infectious diseases, strangles, 

 pharyngitis, contagious pneumonia, influenza, etc. 



Symptoms. — Petechial fever is generally manifested by the 

 appearance upon the mucous membranes of numerous dark red 

 petechia (reddish spots) ; sometimes they are insignificant as a 

 flea bite, then again they may attain the size of a pea or an acorn; 

 they often become joined and form spots or bands of variable 

 length. In serious cases the nasal mucous membrane beconaes 

 affected by gangrene (death of the affected spot) or covered over 

 with ulcerations. The discharge is bloody and of bad aspect, 

 breathing is very laborious, and the expired air has a fetid odor. 

 The general condition sometimes becomes very rapidly aggra- 

 vated; then, in the majority of cases, the disease ends in death. 



Corresponding with the appearance of the reddish spots, or a 

 few days later, the skin becomes swollen; this symptom, which 

 is the most prominent, is often the first symptom noticed. The 

 swellings on the skin may be circumscribed,' and will range in 

 size from a ten-cent piece to a silver dollar; they are usually 

 upon dependent regions, such as the head, extremities, abdomen, 

 sheath, and chest. These swellings are not hot and only slightly 

 sensitive; they gradually extend until they grow together and we 

 have in a few hours the swelling up of the legs, legs and belly, 

 or the head, to an enormous size; they have always the charac- 

 teristic constricted border, which looks as if it had been tied with 

 a cord. They end abruptly and are sometimes as much as 1 inch 

 in thickness. 



The swelling in the legs wiU cause stiffness. The head may be 

 swollen to an enormous size, resembling that of a hippopotamus 

 rather than that of a horse; the caliber of the nostril may be so 



