SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
375 
u gangrenous grease or dermatitis gangrenosa.” 
So far as I have learned Dollar’s translation of “Holler’s 
Surgery ” contains the only mention of this serious and at times 
quite common malady. 
It is characterized by moist gangrene of the skin and adja¬ 
cent tissues of the phalanges of solipeds which produces exten¬ 
sive sloughing, and is.supposed by some to be due to cold, but 
this idea is certainly incorrect. I have met with several cases 
and not a single one in cold weather. On the contrary, it has 
developed during quite warm weather and in at least one in¬ 
stance dry weather. So cold cannot be the sole cause. Infec¬ 
tion through slight wounds is doubtless an important factor in 
the causation. 
We might suspect obstruction to the circulation, but were 
that the cause the necrosis would be confined to the part that 
was robbed of nutrition and the dead tissue would be separate 
from the living, and no further invasion would occur, but in 
this affection new areas are rapidly invaded until the entire foot 
is destroyed or the animal dies from septic intoxication. 
It is evident that much is to be learned of its etiology. It 
is sudden in its attack, often manifesting itself in a night, Though 
its true character may remain obscure for one or two days. 
The leg involved is swollen and extremely painful and re¬ 
sembles an acute attack of scratches. In the latter the sore¬ 
ness and swelling subside witli exercise, while in the former it 
does not but is aggravated and the debility of the patient is 
more marked. After a few hours a careful examination will 
reveal a moisture of the skin in the affected part, and by gentle 
pressure a red turbid serum can be squeezed out that has the 
characteristic odor of gangrene, the surface of the necrotic spots 
will be cold and clammy while surrounding parts may have a 
supernormal temperature. The necrotic patches are usually 
small, but may involve larger areas. If located about the pos¬ 
terior part of the fetlock it may extend across the region as a 
crack like scratches, or it may extend up and down on either 
side of the flexor tendon from the coronet to fetlock, or up¬ 
ward from the fetlock, involving the entire distal metacarpal 
region. . The swelling may extend to the hock or knee, or 
even higher, the animal becomes restless, showing extreme 
pain. The temperature is elevated, the pulse accelerated, 
small and weak, and debility soon becomes well marked. In 
two or three days the necrotic patches are cast off as slimy 
masses. The disease may terminate here and the wound fill 
