FARCY. 1 10 



same character as the g-landcrous ones on the membrane of the 

 nose. They are rounded, with an elevated edire and a pale 

 surface. They are true chancres, and they discharge a virus as 

 infectious and as dangerous as the matter of glanders. While 

 they remain in their hard prominent state, they are called 

 buttons or farcy buds ; and they are connected together by the 

 inflamed and corded veins. 



In some cases the horse vi^ill droop for many a day before the 

 appearance of the corded veins or buds — his appetite will be 

 impaired — his coat will stare — he will lose flesh. The poison is 

 (evidently at work, but has not gained sufficient power to cause 

 the absorbents to enlarge. In a few cases these buds do not 

 ulcerate, but become hard and difficult to disperse. The pro- 

 gress of the disease is then suspended, and possibly for some 

 months the horse Avill appear to be restored to health ; but he 

 bears the seeds of the malady about him, and in due time the 

 larcy assumes its virulent form, and hurries him ofT. These 

 buds have sometimes been confounded with the little tumors oi 

 lumps termed surfeit. They are generally higher than these 

 tumors, and not so broad. They have a more knotty character, 

 and are principally found on the inside of the limbs, instead of 

 the outside. The surfeit buinjJS are pustular and end in des- 

 quamation (scaling ofi',) not in ulceration, and they do not follow 

 the course of the absorbents, but are scattered irregularly over 

 the skin. 



Few things are more unlike, or more perplexing, than thf; 

 different forms Avhich farcy assumes at different times. One of 

 the legs, and particularly one of the hinder legs, will suddenly 

 swell to an enormous size. At night the horse will appear t() 

 be perfectly well, and in the morning one leg will be three times 

 the size of the other, with considerable fever, and scarcely the 

 power of moving the limb. 



At other times the head will be subject to this enlargement, 

 the muzzle particularly will swell, and an offensive discharge 

 will proceed from the nose. Sometimes the horse will gradually 

 lose flesh and strength ; he will be hide-bound ; many eruptions 

 will appear in different parts ; the legs Avill swell ; cracks will 

 be seen at the heels, and an inexperienced person may conceive 

 it to be a mere want of condition, combined with grease. 



By degrees the affection becomes general. The virus has 

 reached the termination of the absorbents, and mingles with 

 the general circulating fluid, and is conveyed Avith the blood to 

 every part of the frame. There are no longer any valves to 

 impede its progress, and consequently no knots or buds, but th*? 

 myriads of capillary absorbents that penetrate every part be 

 come inflamed, and thickened, and enlarged, and cease to dis 



