VI.— INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



TUBERCULOSIS IN THE HORSE. 



164. An eight-year-old Percheron gelding brought for examination, 

 April 7th, 1889. 



History. — Had been bought from a farmer in the neighbourhood 

 of Chartres three years before, had always appeared in good health, 

 and had worked without stoppage as a heavy draught-horse. 



Towards February 15th, 1889, the animal suffered from bronchitis, 

 from which it recovered in a fortnight. It had returned to work for a 

 week, and appeared in its usual health, when one morning the driver 

 noticed at different points a number of subcutaneous swellings of 

 varying size, the largest having the diameter of a two-shilling piece and 

 the thickness of a man's little finger. The animal also seemed rather 

 dull, and became exhausted more readily than usual. This was the 

 history given when the patient was brought here a few days later. 



Condition on Entry. — At the outset of our examination we noted 

 scattered over the surface of the trunk, and of many other regions, 

 numerous swellings, recalling at first sight an outbreak of "heat spots," 

 but distinguishable from these by their clinical characters. All were 

 firm, hard, and of fibrous consistence. The majority had developed in 

 the subcutaneous connective tissue. Some appeared continuous with 

 the skin. In pursuing our examination we saw that certain lymphatic 

 glands, corresponding with the affected zones, were enlarged, spherical 

 or ovoid in shape, moveable under the skin, and of similar consistence 

 to the hypodermic swellings. Several of these glandular enlargements 

 were symmetrical, the corresponding glands of the right and left sides 

 being practically of the same size. In some parts the larger patches 

 beneath the skin were connected with the lymphatic glands by knotted 

 cords. 



Towards the point of the left shoulder, and over the masses of 

 muscle formed by the extensors of the forearm, a lymphatic chain 

 could be seen, extending from the girth to the pre-pectoral glands ; it 

 started from a disc-shaped tumour, one to one and a half inches in 

 diameter, three eighths of an inch in thickness, of very firm and indo- 

 lent character, and moveable under the skin. The shoulders, sides, 

 flanks, and more particularly the croup, quarters, and thighs, showed 

 similar new growths, varying in size between a pea and a five-shilling 

 piece. The inguinal glands, especially those of the left side, were en- 

 larged and indurated. The connective tissue surrounding them was 

 slightly swollen. None of these lesions was at all painful. 



