EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS 427 



discharge which becomes mixed with the food and water and 

 ■is ingested by the patient produces continual reinfection, 

 which increases the development of the disease. 



A few cases of pulmonary glanders and even nasal and skin v 

 glanders recover. Such instances, however, are exceptional 

 in temperate climates. It is said that in tropical countries 

 glanders sometimes assumes a more benign form, and that 

 patients showing marked clinical symptoms of the disease 

 ultimately recover. Similar observations have been made in 

 the western United States. They belong to the exceptional 

 rather than the rule. 



EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS. 



Japanese Farcy. Saccharomycosis. 



Definition. — Epizootic lymphangitis is a chronic, com- 

 municable disease of solipeds which manifests itself as a 

 suppurative inflammation of the subcutaneous lymph vessels 

 and regionary lymph glands. 



Occurrence. — The disease occurs in southern Europe, 

 but has also been reported from Finland, Russia, and 

 England. It is common in Asia (Japan, India) and Africa. 

 Whether or. not true cases have occurred in the United 

 States is problematical. The ones so diagnosed are probably 

 "sporotrichosis" presenting similar symptoms. 



Etiology. — The cause is supposed to be the Cryptococcus 

 farciminosus, large oval bodies very difficult to stain, found 

 in the discharge from ulcers. In the cases which occurred 

 in Pennsylvania bacteriological investigations failed to reveal 

 the cryptococcus but did show the presence of a sporothrix f 

 identical with that isolated from man. Evidently the 

 Pennsylvania outbreak, and very probably the other out- 

 breaks in this country, were not identical with the epizootic 

 lymphangitis first described by Tokishiga (1896) and Pallin 

 (1904) in horses in Japan and India. 



Natural Infection. — Evidently occurs through small lesions 

 in the skin. The cryptococcus is probably carried by inter- 

 mediate agents such as harness, bedding, stable utensils, ■ 



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