116 CHAPTER 12. 



223. Diseases of the Lacteals. 



In some cases the Lacteals appear to suffer from torpidity. The blood 

 in consequence is not properly nourished, and as a result the horse falls 

 off in condition. In other cases the lacteals become the seat of active 

 disease, especially of tubercular degeneration. The glands in the mesen- 

 tery most often suffer from this cause. After a time the effused tuber- 

 cular matter destroys their structure, and impedes the passage of the 

 chyle through them. The abdomen in these cases is usually swollen, 

 whilst the other parts of the body are wasted away. Ascites frequently 

 supervenes. 



It often happens, however, that there are no outward signs by which 

 we can positively ascertain the existence of any derangement or disease 

 of the lacteal absorbents. We can only surmise that such must be the 

 case when the horse falls off in condition without any other cause ade- 

 quate to account for the result. 



The only treatment we can adopt in any case is attention to the 

 general health, fresh air, good food, and moderate exercise accompanied 

 with the administration of tonics. A run at grass sometimes produces a 

 beneficial effect. 



224. Diseases of the Lymphatics. 



The diseases of the Lymphatics appear to result from a vitiated condi- 

 tion of the blood from which they draw their secretions, rather than from 

 primary affection of the organs themselves. Whether the Lymphatics 

 ever absorb waste material, as a normal duty, may be doubtful ; but it is 

 certain that noxious matters in the blood are readily taken up by them, 

 and when absorbed produce great irritation followed by inflammation and 

 sometimes by total disorganisation of their structure. Virus and pus are 

 also readily taken up by them and carried as far as the nearest Lymphatic 

 Gland. In the gland they occasion inflammation and suppuration, and 

 eventually by this latter action in favourable cases are ejected from the 

 system. 



Disease may exist in the superficial lymphatic vessels for a length of 

 time without affecting the deep seated vessels or glands; but when it 

 commences in the deep seated vessels, the superficial are always soon 

 affected. As long as the disease is confined to the vessels, whether super- 

 ficial or deep seated, there is no reason to fear danger but when it has 

 involved the glands, it generally proves very intractable. 



Having regard to the origin of the disease affecting the Lymphatics, 

 the treatment required appears to consist mainly in attention to the 

 general health and in the very best feeding. Biniodide of copper given 

 internally in doses of one drachm twice a day is also very useful. As a 

 local remedy great benefit is often derived from the application of bin- 

 iodide of mercury to the surface and around the vessels affected. 



To the symptoms and treatment of Farcy, the most serious disease to 

 which the Lymphatics are subject, a separate chapter, No. 29, is devoted, 



