General Surgery 33 



ERYSIPELAS. 



This is an extremely rare disease, the dog being almost immune 

 to the pathogenic action of the pyogenic streptococcus. Froehner 

 has recorded witnessing only four cases in seventy thousand animals 

 treated at Berlin. The infection, when it occurs, is apt to be metas- 

 tatic and induce remote troubles, one of Froehner's cases having 

 exhibited myocarditis, pericarditis, hepatitis and nephritis. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. The local symptoms are much less 

 evident than. in the human being, owing to the skin being hidden by 

 the hair. The area of infection is swollen and intensely red or 

 bluish red and sensitive. The usual constitutional symptoms of fever 

 are also present. 



Treatment. Locally, the inflamed area must receive a thorough 

 cleansing with antiseptic solutions. The hair should also be re- 

 moved with clippers. Following this, ichthyol or thiol should be ap- 

 plied in the form of ointment, the strength of the ointment being at 

 least half and half. This dressing is to be freely and repeatedly 

 applied. Internally, tincture of the chloride of iron should be ad- 

 ministered in large doses, four or five times daily. Excessive febrile 

 manifestations may be combatted with antipyretic drugs, or better 

 still, by application of ice-packs to the body. 



TOXEMIA. SEPTICEMIA. PYEMIA. 



No sharp distinction can be drawn between these three forms 

 of systemic poisoning, since, properly speaking, the difference is one 

 of degree rather than of kind. By Toxemia is meant the absorption 

 of and intoxication by the products of microbic activity (toxalbu- 

 mins) having their origin in some local infective process. The term 

 Septicemia is used when living pyogenic bacteria enter the circula- 

 tion, while by Pyemia is meant the condition where these bacteria 

 are deposited in distant tissues with resultant production of multiple 

 abscesses. In the two latter conditions, therefore, the localization 

 of the bacteria in vital organs is what is most to be feared. There 

 may then result a train of disorders (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, 

 renal, or cerebral), any one of which may be sufficient in itself to 

 bring about a fatal termination. The microorganism most com- 

 monly concerned is the staphylococcus aureus, the streptococcus 

 being but slightly virulent in the dog. Metastasis may be by the 

 blood or lyniph channels, 



4 



