270 LYMPHANGITIS. 



not at first increased in amount, is of higher specific gravity 

 than natural. 



In addition to these, which we may consider the more truly 

 diagnostic S3niiptoms, there is greater or less impairment of 

 appetite, an increased desire for fluids, slight restlessness, some- 

 times amounting to colicky pains, and an anxious expression of 

 countenance, wdth repeated turning of the head and pointing 

 with the muzzle backAvards. 



Course and Termination. — Although the local manifestations 

 both of functional disturbance and of tissue-change connected 

 with 'lymphangitis may continue for a lengthened period ere 

 they are completely removed, in their acute characters they 

 are of comparatively short duration. Both general and local 

 symptoms continue to increase in severity for twenty-four or 

 forty-eight hours, when, having attained their height, they 

 remain stationary for at least a similar period before any dis- 

 tinct sign of defervescence is obvious. Rarely do w^e encounter 

 any serious complications during the development of the con- 

 stitutional disturbance ; while, when such do occur, they are 

 usually pneumonic or enteric ; the latter are the more serious. 

 In the ordinary and uncomplicated cases of lymphangitis, the 

 general symptoms, as a rule, defervesce before any change 

 except the abatement of pain takes place in the extent or 

 severity of the local. The absorption and removal of the 

 exudate characteristic of the disease is in no case so rapidly 

 accomplished as its extravasation, Avhile where the vessels and 

 connective-tissue of the limb have been weakened and lost 

 their tonicity through previous disturbance and invasions of a 

 similar nature, or where the material thrown out as the result 

 of the inflammatory iiction has been largely composed of 

 fibrine-producing agents, the removal of the adventitious mate- 

 rial is always more tedious, and never perfectly completed. 



In aU recurring attacks there is at each fresh invasion less 

 chance of a good recovery ; the whole vascular and inter- 

 connective tissues of the oftending member are steadily and in 

 an ever-increasing ratio Aveakcned, the material eftused on each 

 succeeding disturbance is added to the organized remains of 

 the extravasatc of the formerl}' existing disease, to be itself in 

 all probability organized, and thus adding so much to the exist- 

 ing abnormality and weakened condition. These repeated 



