258 CHAPTER 29. 



slight as to escape observation. In most cases the disease itself is indi- 

 cated by the appearance of a slight, or it may be a considerable swelling 

 of one or more of the superficial absorbents. Before long the vessels 

 become corded, and knots appear at the valves along their line. Each 

 knot breaks out into a very peculiar deep yellow-edged ulcer. The ab- 

 sorbents, we may remark, follow closely the line of the veins. In other 

 cases farcy commences with a very painful cedematous swelling of the 

 hind leg, and sometimes even before any swelling is perceived, the horse 

 is unaccountably lame. The cause of such lameness really arises from 

 inflammation of the deep-seated absorbents. The swelling, however, 

 goon appears, followed, as described above, by cording of the absorbents. 

 When farcy appears on the lips, face or shoulders, the buds are usually 

 much smaller than when it appears in the hind extremities. 



In unfavorable cases the knotting of the absorbents and the formation 

 of ulcers rapidly increase. In some cases the body may be covered with 

 them. Death occurs as soon as the ulceration affects any of the more 

 important internal organs, or the animal may die of exhaustion before 

 this stage is reached. Glanders generally supervenes before death. 



In some cases knots only, without any cording, form at the valves of 

 the superficial absorbents. Though this condition may continue for a 

 time, even for a considerable time, the disease will generally go forward 

 to ulceration, or else will be relieved. There is no real distinction be- 

 tween this and the more usual type of the disease. Among the old 

 school this modification was known as " Button " farcy. 



Farcy, however, often appears in a less virulent form. The ulcers 

 may be few, and sometimes the disease seems at a standstill for weeks or 

 months. When the constitution of the patient is good, and other cir- 

 cumstances are favorable, and especially when the disease is confined to 

 the superficial absorbents, the symptoms may subside, and the case appa- 

 rently yield to treatment. 



The matter discharged from a farcy pustule is either like thin pus of a 

 dirty dingy yellow colour or of a glue-like character, and in either case 

 it is offensive ; or it may be bloody or ichorous, or like foetid serum. 

 It abrades the surface on which it falls, and hence helps to spread the 

 disease. The pustules sometimes extend into each other, and large un- 

 healthy sores covered with purulent matter are then formed. 



During the time of prevalence of Glanders or Farcy among the horses 

 of an establishment there is peculiar disposition in sores of an apparently 

 trivial character, to take on an unhealthy action, eventuating probably in 

 an inflamed condition of the neighbouring absorbents. This disposition 

 tends to show that the blood is in an unhealthy condition. 



523. Treatment of Farcy. See 527. 



