268 LYMPHANGITIS. 



creased volume, feels tirm and indurated ; in recent cases, parts 

 of this structure may have become softened and broken down, 

 forming small circumscribed abscesses. 



Occasionally tbe glands of tbe mesentery and of the abdo- 

 men are found enlarged and infiltrated with a hyahne or gela- 

 tinous straw-coloured exudate, and the abdominal cavity con- 

 tains a considerable amount of a similarly coloured fluid. 



In the very well-marked cases of elephantiasis, the skin 

 itself is much thickened, the hypertrophy seemingly occm-ring 

 in the fibro-vascular structures of the, dermis ; in this situation 

 the organization of the material effused has been more perfect 

 than in the meshes of the subcutaneous and intermuscular 

 tissue. The corrugation or doubling of the skin in this condi- 

 tion does not seem, on more careful examination, to be folding 

 of the whole structures, but rather to spring from its vascular 

 or papillary layer, as if a hypertrophy merely of this particular 

 portion, which, however, carries the more superficial structures 

 along with it. The lymph-glands in these very chronic cases 

 are sometimes found infiltrated with calcareous material, 

 giving a feeling of grittiness when divided with a knife. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of weed are very obviously 

 separable into two classes : (1) Local, which are the truly 

 diagnostic ; (2) Constitutional or general, common to this and 

 many other affections. 



1. Local. — The horse is found lame in the morning, most 

 probably no suspicion having been excited on being left on the 

 previous evening. Although there are cases which at first 

 rather puzzle us as to the cause of lameness, in the majority 

 there is little difficulty, while in all a careful examination 

 will direct us to its origin. In making these examinations, 

 a short history of the case will materially assist us, always 

 remembering that enforced rest in the midst of hard work, 

 and liberal feeding, are exceedingly likely to induce this dis- 

 ease ; also the breed and character of the animal under 

 observation. 



Swelling and tenderness are first shown in connection with 

 the lymphatic glands in the inguinal or brachial region. The 

 swelling, which at first may not bo large, is tolerably firm, 

 although truly (edematous, slightly irregular, from the nodu- 

 lated character of the gland-structure, and is more extensive 



