iqio.] 



Swine Erysipelas. 



911 



SWINE ERYSIPELAS. 



This disease may be defined as a contagious disease of 

 swine caused by the bacillus of Swine Erysipelas. 



Prevalence. — The investigations which have been con- 

 ducted in connection with swine fever have shown that swine 

 erysipelas, particularly in its milder forms, frequently affects 

 pigs in Great Britain, and that in a certain proportion of 

 cases it is the cause of death. 



During the last three years records have been kept by the 

 Veterinary Officers of the Board regarding outbreaks of 

 disease which were reported as suspected swine fever and 

 afterwards found by the visiting veterinary surgeon to be 

 swine erysipelas. These records, which extend to 1,200 such 

 outbreaks annually, show that at least one pig died in each case. 



This figure, however, cannot be taken as nearly represent- 

 ing the annual number of outbreaks of swine erysipelas, 

 because in most cases the disease assumes a mild form, and 

 there must be many other outbreaks in which a pig has died 

 without raising a suspicion of swine fever, in which case the 

 fatality would not be reported to the Board. The disease is 

 most frequently met with in fat pigs, that is to say, at a 

 somewhat later age than that at which they are most usually 

 attacked by swine fever. 



Acute Cases. — In acute cases of swine erysipelas the 

 animals show the usual signs of severe illness in the pig, 

 viz., rise of temperature, shivering, loss of appetite, and 

 vomiting. In such cases a fatal termination may take place 

 in 24 to 48 hours, but the animals frequently live much 

 longer. In the less acute cases a red patchy eruption, from 

 which the disease gets its name — erysipelas — appears on the 

 buttocks, thighs, body, and ears. 



The breathing is very rapid, and the swine stagger about 

 when made to walk. Ultimately they lie prostrate in the 

 litter and die comatosed. 



Mild Cases. — In mild cases the general symptoms are not 

 marked; the swine appear to be out of sorts, and show the 

 usual skin eruption, which is sometimes called nettle rash. 



Animals which have apparently passed through the acute 

 stages of the disease may remain unthrifty for a long time. 



