912 



Swine Erysipelas. 



[FEB, 



Sometimes they die suddenly from disease of the heart, 

 which is not an uncommon sequel of the disease. In other 

 cases they present symptoms of lameness due to trouble in 

 the joints. 



The skin is discoloured by livid patches as in swine fever, 

 but sometimes the only symptoms shown are those of nettle 

 rash. The bacillus apparently can flourish for a long time 

 outside the bodies of animals, so that once the disease is 

 introduced into insanitary styes the infection tends to remain 

 there. For some reason, however, which is ill understood, 

 the disease may assume a very mild form for a time, then 

 burst out acutely. In Great Britain the acute forms have 

 been observed particularly in the warm months. 



Post-mortem. — The membranes of the stomach and intes- 

 tines show red patches, and are often swollen. The intestinal 

 glands on the membrane are red and enlarged; sometimes 

 the surface over these glands is abraded, but the distinct 

 ulcer of swine fever is never seen. The lymphatic glands 

 throughout the body are swollen and red. The spleen is 

 often enlarged. 



The membranous coverings of the lungs and heart show 

 red spots, and sometimes water is present in the chest and 

 heart sac. 



The lungs are congested. 



In the chronic form the tissues around the opening between 

 the chambers of the heart, particularly on the left side, are 

 frequently thickened and rough ; that is to say, endocarditis 

 is present. 



Prevention and Remedies. — This is a disease against which 

 several methods of protective inoculation have been directed. 

 At the present day it is customary to employ either (i) a pre- 

 ventive serum obtained from horses which have been highly 

 immunised by the injection of large quantities of pure cultures 

 of the bacillus of swine erysipelas, or (2) a combination of 

 specified doses of preventive serum and pure cultures of the 

 bacillus. 



The immunity conferred by the serum alone begins imme- 

 diately, but it lasts for little more than ten days. Ap- 

 parently, however, it exerts a protective action even when used 

 in the initial stages of infection. The immunity conferred 



