68 



Swine Erysipelas. 



circumscribed, round or more frequently quadrangular or rhom- 

 boidal spots develop in various parts of the body, especially on 

 the chest land back, outside of the thighs and on the neck, but 

 sometimes over the entire body, which are warm to the touch 

 and dark red or violet in color. Later they appear elevated 

 above the surface of the surrounding skin as much as 2 to 3 

 mm. The center usually becomes pale while the border retains 

 the bright color. In other cases the raised parts remain red 

 and even become darker, while on their surface a serous fluid 

 exudes, which raises the epithelium in the form of small vesi- 

 cles which later dry to crusts. As a rule the plaques are of 

 dollar size, but by their confluence swellings may be formed as 

 large as the pahn of the hand. 



The development of the eruptions is usually associated 

 with fever (up to 42.8° C), dullness, loss of appetite^ thirst. 



Fig. 22. Sioine erysipelas. Gangrene of the skin of the back. 

 (After Schwarzbart.) 



constipation, conjunctivitis, sometimes symptoms of paralysis 

 and nausea. After the development of the eruptions the symp- 

 toms diminish. Soon afterwards the eruptions also disappear, 

 and after 2 to 3 days, sometimes however only after 8 to 12 

 days, the animal recovers. 



In some of the cases the changes in the skin take on a 

 malignant character. On the parts of the body mentioned, 

 more frequently, however, on the ears, head and tail, the skin 

 swells considerably in certain spots, becomes dark red and 

 warmer; soon these places become insensitive, cooler and 

 dry, and finally become separated from the surrounding and , 

 underlying tissues, or the animal loses one or both ears, its 

 tail or distal digits. Sometimes the inflamed skin over the back 

 dies off in its entire extension so that it covers the upper part 

 of the body in the form of a shield (Fig. 22), and gradually 

 loosens from the borders and is cast off. The resulting raw 

 surfaces heal later should the animal remain alive, causing dis- 



