Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
Usually _cutaneous swellings_ coincide with the petechiæ, or appear
within two days thereafter. The first manifestation is in the form of
rounded abruptly elevated nodules, about 1½ inch to 3 inches in
diameter, strongly resembling the eruption of urticaria. These show a
certain predilection for the more dependent parts of the body,—limbs,
abdomen, sheath, mammæ, sternal or pectoral region, nose, lips, face,
etc.,—but they may develop on any part or on the whole surface. Neither
tenderness nor heat is usually excessive. The swellings tend to run
together so as to form extended elevations enveloping the entire limb up
to a given point, forming a great pad under the chest and abdomen, or
distending the whole face or head so that it seems more like that of a
hippopotamus than of a horse. In such cases the lips and nostrils become
so thick and rigid that prehension is impossible, and breathing if it
can be accomplished at all is accompanied with a marked snuffling. The
swollen eyelids are closed, and the general turgid surface of the face
is hard and resistant and no longer pits on pressure.
Under the _chest_ and _abdomen_ the swellings show as a continuous pad
or cushion, on one side mainly or extending across continuously on both
sides, and from the breast to between the thighs. It usually pits on
pressure, and may shed the hair and become rough and scabby or ooze a
serous fluid from the surface.
On the limbs the swelling usually shows first on the fetlock or pastern
and gradually extends upward until it reaches the body.
As the disease advances chaps, cracks and fissures tend to form on the
swellings, showing about the head, on the lips or on the nose and
maxilla where the noseband of the halter crosses; on the lower part of
the body where the circingle crosses, or where the part is pressed upon
in lying down, and in the limbs in the flexure of the joints—behind the
pastern, or knee or in front of the hock. In many cases the skin and
connective tissue sloughs, and drops off exposing the muscles, the
tendons or the ligaments of the joints. In other cases the tendons are
involved in the degenerative process or necrosis and become detached
from their lower insertions so that the toe may be turned up or the
fetlock pad may come to the ground. The matrix of the hoof wall
(coronary band) may separate from the horn, leaving a gaping opening
which exudes liquid freely, and if the animal survives, the entire hoof
may be shed.
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