88 TREATMENT OF DISEASES 



These are the general symptoms of farcy ; if any doubt, however, 

 exists as to the nature of the disease, it will in a few days, some- 

 times in a few hours, be dispelled by observing coi'ded lymphatics 

 issuing from these patches, which soon become running sores. 



A case of farcy came under my observation a short time ago. 

 The subject had for some time been suffering under constitutional 

 derangement, gradually losing his appetite and flesh. An influenza 

 was now prevailing in the stable, which attacked all the inmates. 

 .The one alluded to had a fetid discharge from the nose, differing 

 from that of the other horses ; and soon farcy buds made their ap- 

 pearance, accompanied by swelling of the legs. The fetid breath, 

 together with the constitutional symptoms, would seem to favor the 

 liypothesis that the patient was a subject of deep-seated farcy, and, 

 probably, had been such for a length of time. It was thought advis- 

 able to destroy this animal. The others all recovered; four of the 

 number, however, having swollen legs, were permitted to run a few 

 days at grass before they could be put to work. Veterinary writers 

 speak of several forms of farcy ; but these are only varieties of the 

 same disease, difl"ering only in their symptoms and duration, assum- 

 ing a mild or malignant form, as the case may be, in exact ratio to 

 the general health of the subject. 



The flrst stage of farcy is tumefaction of the lymphatics — " devel- 

 opment of the farcy bud." 



The second stage is commonly a suppurative one, terminating in 

 a farcy ulcer. After passing through these two stages, the disease 

 may, and frequently does, terminate in glanders. Hence the prog- 

 nosis of farcy, in most cases, is considered unfavorable. Yet, when 

 it attacks horses in good condition, some hopes may be entertained 

 of a cure. In the diagnosis of farcy, we are not apt to be mistaken, 

 provided we keep in mind the language of a distinguished veterin- 

 ary writer, who says, "No swelling of a hind limb (or any other 

 part) constitutes a case of farcy, apart from the unequivocal signs 

 of lymphatic disease. There must be present corded, nodulated 

 swellings — buds in some form or other — together with actual or ap- 

 proaching tumefaction of the lymphatic glands, or the case is not 

 farcy." 



" I cannot help thinking," says the same author, "from accounts 

 I have perused in some veterinary works, that both glanders and 

 farcy have been mistaken ; or, rather, that diseases of another kind 

 have been mistaken for them, and for farcy oftener than for glan- 

 ders. One disease in particular, and one that is by no means so 

 very rare in its occurrence, I feel quite certain has been called by 

 the name of farcy, and under this appellation appears to have been 

 'cured,' and to have been recorded as such. The disease I allude 

 to is that which is now known by the name of diffuse inflammation 

 of the cellular membrane — a disease consisting in the generally sud- 

 den appearance of lumps or patches of sub-cutaneous effusion, of a 

 solid and even Arm description, attended by a3dematous, swollen 

 states of the limbs, belly, sheath, &c., and thus having, so far, the 

 character of vmter farcy.* But in these cases, let it be well ob- 



* What was in former times known aa water farcy, Is now understooU as superficial dropsy — an 

 elTusiou into tlie ccUuiar tissue. 



