DISEASES OF THE VEINS. 247 



VARICOSE VEINS, VARIX, OR DILATATION OF VEINS. 



This may be a result of weakening of the coats from inflammatory 

 disease and degeneration. It may also be due to mechanical obstruc- 

 tion from internal or external sources. It is sometimes found in the 

 vein which lies superficial over the inside of the hock joint, and may 

 be due to the pressure of a spavin. Occasionally it may be observed 

 in stallions, which are more or less subject to varicocele, or dilatation 

 of the veins of the testicular cord. Hemorrhoidal veins, or piles, are 

 occasionallj" met with, generally in horses which run at pasture. 

 Varicose veins ma}^ ulcerate and form an abscess in the surrounding 

 tissues, or they may rupture from internal blood pressure and the 

 blood form large tumors where the tissues are soft. 



Treatment. — Stallions which manifest a tendency to varicocele 

 should wear suspensory bags when they are exercised. Piles may 

 often be reduced by astringent washes — tea made from white-oak 

 bark or a saturated solution of alum. The bowels should be kept 

 loose with bran mashes and the animal kept quiet in the stable. 

 AMien varicose veins exist superficially and threaten to produce incon- 

 venience, they may be ligated above and below and thus obliterated. 

 Sometimes absorption may be induced by constant bandages. 



AIR IN VEINS, OR AIR EMBOLISM. 



It was formerly supposed that the entrance of air into a vein at the 

 time of the infliction of a wound or in blood-letting was extremely 

 dangerous and very often produced sudden death by interfering with 

 the circulation of the blood through the heart and lungs. Danger 

 from air embolism is exceedingl}'^ doubtful, unless great quantities 

 were forced into a large vein by artificial means. 



PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 



Purpura hemorrhagica usually occurs as a sequel to debilitating 

 diseases, such as strangles, influenza, etc. It may, however, arise in 

 the absence of any previous disease in badly ventilated stables, among 

 poorly fed horses, and in animals subject to exhausting work and 

 extreme temperatures. The disease is jjrobabh' due to some as yet 

 undiscovered infectious principle. Its gravity does not depend so 

 much upon the amount of blood extravasated as it does upon the dis- 

 turbance or diminished action of the vaso-motor centers. 



Symjjtoins. — This disease becomes manifested by the occurrence of 

 sudden swellings on various parts of the body, on the head or lij)s, 

 limbs, abdomen, etc. These swellings may be diffused or very mark- 

 edly circumscribed, though in the advanced stages they cover large 

 areas. They pit on pressure and are but slightly painful to the touch. 

 The limbs may swell to a very large size, the nostrils may become 

 almost closed, and the head and throat may swell to the point of suf- 



