SLAUGHTER-HOUSE INSPECTION 
545 
Red discolorations of the skin are usually present in various parts, 
the ears are frequently swollen to twice or three times the normal 
size and thickness and occasional necroses of the skin and subcu¬ 
taneous tissues occur upon the ears and other parts which have 
been bruised. When slaughtered, and the hair and cuticular 
layer of the skin are removed in the usual process of preparing 
the carcass for food, the haemorrhagic discolorations of the skin 
which are present in nearly all cases of cholera will attract the 
inspector’s notice. These discolorations vary from a bright red 
color in recent cases to a dark gray pigmentation in convalescing 
cases. They may vary in size from small lenticular spots on 
the legs, jowl and neck, to blotches several inches in diameter 
situated on any part of the body. 
Strokes of the whip or other light contusions of the skin 
will produce light red marks in healthy hogs, but in cases of 
cholera the color is dark red and extends a considerable distance 
from the injury. 
Haemorrhages also occur into the subcutaneous fat from 
very slight contusions and show as dark spots under the skin. 
In cases of several days’ standing these haemorrhagic areas often 
necrose, and an incision through the skin reveals a quantity of 
dirty brown putrid fluid. The overlying skin will slough if the 
animal lives long enough. The lymphatic glands in all parts 
of the body present haemorrhagic lesions, which vary from red¬ 
ness of the periphera to a dark bloody discoloration of the en¬ 
tire glandular mass. Extravasations of blood beneath the serous 
membranes are often quite extensive, especially in the lungs, 
mesenteric folds and leaf lard. In mild cases the kidneys are 
studded with minute points of coagulated blood, and in violent 
cases the pelvis and capsules may contain extensive clots of 
blood. The characteristic exudation nodes (buttons of Welch) 
and ulcerations of the intestinal mucus membrane are rarely 
difficult to find, especially in the region of the ilio-csecal valve 
and may be confidently looked for to confirm a doubtful diag¬ 
nosis. The haemorrhagic lesions of the skin, lymphatic glands 
and serous membranes are usually sufficiently marked to render 
