GLANDERS AND FABCY. 259 



524. Diseases sometimes mistaken for Farcy, e. g. Lymphangitis or 



Wood, &c. 



Inflammation of the absorbents, vulgarly called Weed, is sometimes 

 mistaken for Farcy. The distinction between the two diseases has been 

 noticed in Chapter 12, on the Absorbents. 



Detached swellings about the body arising from suppressed perspira- 

 tion and other causes are occasionally mistaken for Farcy. These 

 symptoms however generally subside as rapidly as they appear, and do 

 not run, as it were, in chains, but are more or less localised. 



Abscesses, often presenting a very unhealthy appearance, may also 

 occur in the hind legs, as the result of local irritation and inflammation 

 caused by kicking in the stable. Here, however, the cause is apparent. 



525. Symptoms of Glanders. 



The appearance of Glanders is primarily indicated by swelling of the 

 SufomaxiUary Gland. Fever is seldom present to any noticeable extent, 

 except in the acute form of the disease. After a time the characteristic 

 discharge from one or both nostrils, but generally from one only, 

 appears. 



The gland on the same side becomes more swollen and painful, but, as 

 a rule, shows no indication to suppurate. A marked symptom in the 

 condition of this gland soon occurs. It becomes hard and firmly 

 adherent to the jaw-bone, and ceases to be painful on the application of 

 pressure. These peculiarities distinguish it from the soft diffused swell- 

 ings of the glands often found in diseases of the air-passages. 



In the early stages of the disease the lining membrane of the nose will 

 assume a heightened colour. 



The discharge from the nostrils is at first thin and aqueous, but soon 

 assumes the characteristic glairy condition, and is generally of a straw- 

 colour, but in the very late stages it becomes more purulent in its nature. 



The quantity and quality of the discharge varies in different cases ; it 

 may be slight or copious, it may be thick or thin ; but the one constant 

 feature, which induces us to suspect the nature of the disease, is the glue- 

 like and adhesive nature of the discharge. It clings about the hair 

 round the nostrils, and may even partly close these orifices and cause 

 difficulty in breathing. 



The duration of the gleet before further symptoms are developed is 

 extremely variable. It may be only a few days, or it may be weeks or 

 months, depending on the condition and constitution of the animal, the 

 kind of treatment adopted, and also to a great extent upon the mode by 

 which the disease was propagated. 



526. The Chancre of Glanders. 



The Chancre of Glanders is of a peculiarly unhealthy character. It 

 has an elevated circular pinkish border including a base of dingy or faint 

 yellow albuminous matter, which on being touched commences bleeding. 



