TREATMENT. 315 



and to apparently infiltrate a zone outside itself, which should 

 be included in the removal. On pressure this imparts a feeling 

 of extra firmness to the touch. After the operation the sore will 

 frequently assume an indolent character, and will require to 

 be stimulated as its condition may suggest. For this purpose 

 those agents in ordinary use answer very well, such as lunar 

 caustic and sulphate of copper ; while some practitioners advo- 

 cate the use of alkalies, and others of acids. The whole of 

 these agents in other proportions will of course be equally 

 useful to check luxuriant growths where the wound shows 

 an opposite tendency. A variety of dressings — that is, change 

 from the use of one material to another — appears in certain 

 cases to be followed by some benefit. Cicatrization in most 

 cases is protracted, and of the peculiar character described ; it 

 rarely or never occurs spontaneously, and with the return of 

 the season there is great probability of recurrence in the same 

 as well as other parts of the body. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



DIABETES. 



Definition. — A coiivplex morbid condition originating from or 

 closely convaected luith certain disturbances in the j^'i'ocess of 

 assimilation, evidenced by excessive secretion of urine, great 

 and persistent thirst, rapid emacicdion and loss of energy ; in 

 one form characterized by tJie pi-esence of saccharine material 

 in the urine and. other animal fluids. 



Use of the Term. — Unfortunately for the correctness of 

 medical nosology and nomenclature the term Diabetes is em- 

 ployed in both human and veterinary medicine to designate 

 two somewhat dissimilar morbid conditions, which although 

 possessing in common certain prominent features, are yet with 

 our present knowledge regarded as in much essentially dif- 

 ferent. 



The more mahgnant and truly systemic of these has, in 

 deference to its most prominent diagnostic symptom, saccha- 



