l62 



SaccJiai omycosis cutanea et siibcutaiica: — The j'oiingest nodule 

 is usually situated in the cutis. Subcutaneous nodules appear 

 when the cutis is perforated by cutaneous nodules ; then the 

 process is extended over the neighboring parts, mainly through 

 the lymphatic vessels. Thus appear subcutaneous nodules in 

 the form of pearl cord. Clinically a fresh nodule is at first 

 hard, not dislocable and not very warm, but frequently painful 

 to the touch. The cut surface of a fresh nodule looks grey 

 yellow and medullary. The connective tissue round the nodule 

 is generally infiltrated and jelly-like, and we sometimes find 

 thrombi in the local veins. INIicroscopically a fresh nodule 

 consists of round cells, loaded with a number of saccharomyces , 

 and such cells are sometimes provided with processes like 

 pseudopodia. As the microbe increases in number, the hostile 

 cells are gradually destroyed, and this results in the softening of 

 the nodule. Unlike a veritable malleous nodule, in which soften- 

 ing begins from the centre, the saccharomycotic nodule generally 

 softens /;/ toto at the same time. This difference may perhaps be 

 accounted for by the fact that, while the softening in the former 

 case is the result of necrobiosis due to nutritive disturbance, the 

 softening of the latter is the result of more mechanical inter- 

 ference exerted b\- the microbe. 



By the process of softening, the nodule is gradually trans- 

 formed into an abscess of hazel to walnut size, which in turn 

 perforates the skin, evacuates its content, and becomts an ulcer. 

 The content of abscess consists of thick glutinous pus, like tin- 

 milk, or of bloody or dim fluid with cheesy floccules held in 

 suspension. IMicroscopically we find abundant sacchaj-omyces 

 associated with numerous granules and often with pyogenic 

 microbes, cocci or bacilli. The quality of the ulcer differs 

 according to the condition of the animal ; in a weak individual 

 the ulcer is hollow with inactive granulations. In the majority 

 of cases, especially in strong young horses, vigorous granula- 

 tion arises from the bottom and border of the ulcer, whereby the 

 latter soon becomes prominent over the surface of the skin, in 

 the form of fungi or polypi, 2-3 cm. in height — I'lcits fitngosnvi 

 s. polyposnni, tumor polyposus or properly called saccJiaroniyconi. 

 Such polypous ulcers appear especially at the inferior part of the 

 extremities ; as they grow longer, the peripherical end is subjected 

 to deca}- and is torn off piece by piece. Another form of ulcer, 



