MARCH 1948] RAM NARAIN MOHAN 29
Gerlach (1873). The skin is affected principally in the same way as the mucous membrane, but
not so constantly, and generally in a few places only.
If the lesions are few in number they are
liable to be missed. It is always the fine, especially the unpigmented, skin on which the exanthema
appears, the favourite sites being the udder, especially the base of the teats, and the scrotum. Less
frequently, it may be seen on the nasal alae and vulvar labiae, perineum, inside of the thighs, on the
head and neck ; very seldom, it gets generalized. As with lesions on the mucosa, the course of the
skin eruptions varies with the severity of the initial lesion. The mildest lesions lead to rich des-
quamation and yellowish brown crusts cover the areas. The next higher grade shows itself by hyper-
aemia, diffuse erysipelatous reddening, much peeling off, transudation, moistening and greasing
of the affected spots, and finally formation of thin scabs. The severest lesions consist of intense
reddening, destruction of epidermis and formation of thick crusts which are dirty yellowish brown,
often many layers thick, and firmly set over the dark red corium. The lesions of milder degrees
occur in diffuse form over large areas, particularly on the neck and inside of the thighs. Those of
the severest degree are generally localized to the udder, scrotum and perineum. Vesicles and pustules
do not form, but the eruption on the udder is reminiscent of pox.
Carasson (1921, 1932). The cutaneous manifestations are a constant symptom of rinderpest.
They appear in the second stage of the attack simultaneously with conjunctivitis, stomatitis and
diarrhoea, but in view of their small size and discrete nature they are generally noticed much later
than the concomitant lesions. The red, round and more or less discrete or confluent spots (macules)
occur on different parts of the body, more commonly where the skin is thin and the hair fine, less
frequently on the upper parts of the body and the extremities, exceptionally below the hock or the
knee. On these spots, the hair stands erect and, if the lesions are isolated, the small bunches of
hair appear as in miliary ringworm. As they porgress, the macules rapidly become papules, and
later vesico-pustules ; at this time they generally attract attention. In two or three days, transuda-
tion starts, the pustules burst causing matting of the hair, and the picture varies according to the
number and disposition of the lesions. When localized to areas of fine skin like the udder, and
when they dry up, the crusts and the matted hair fall off leaving small gaps in the coat. The hair
on these spots reappears slowly and the small ' tufts grow against the grain '. If, on the other hand,
the pustules involve more or less large plaques, the skin gets raised by fluid collected in layers in the
thickness of the dermis, but following transudation on the surface it subsides, when it may crepitate.
Later, the corresponding pieces of epidermis fall off and the dermis which is laid bare is in a state of
congestion, which disappears slowly, and is like a raw surface left after strong vesication or blistering.
On these parts, the hair grows slowly, is always sparse, and its colour and direction are different
from the surrounding coat. Such lesions are commonly encountered on the back, loins and croup.
Very rarely, the eruptions become generalized, covering the whole body, and resulting in the forma-
tion of large plaques. When the scabs from these areas fall off, an intensely congested, naked, and
badly damaged skin is left behind, as in severe vesication. The deeper papillary layers of dermis
are destroyed and the hair does not grow again ; veritable cicatrices remain.
Eruptions as seen in Bengal
The initial lesions, when noticed, are said to be in the form of small, discrete, reddish spots,
' like mosquito-bites ', appearing about the same time as the mouth lesions, diarrhoea, etc. These
develop and turn into pustules about the size of a split pea in diameter, and some thick sero-purulent
matter is discharged which causes the hair to mat in isolated bunches. The scabs which form stick
to the body of the animal for about five to ten days, sometimes even longer, and, when the dried up
crusts fall off, small hairless islets are left behind. New hair grow up after some time on these spots
and in four to six weeks attains the level of the surrounding coat from which it may generally be
distinguished by appreciable differences in colour and direction. In many cases, the pustules are
ill developed, especially those on the back and chest, and there is little transudation, so that the
crusts stick closely to the underlying skin and do not fall off until some weeks after their formation
The commonest sites of the cutaneous eruptions seem to be the region of the shoulder and the ad-
joining areas on the chest, back, neck and dewlap. They have, however, been noticed on almost