ELEPHANTIASIS. 79 



attack than if he had never before suffered. Elephantiasis 

 may also occur as a sequel to a case of grease, more particu- 

 larly where such has been improperly treated. There may 

 be a varicose or dilated condition of the veins in elephan- 

 tiasis. 



Treatment. — A clear case of elephantiasis is incurable. 

 However, the administration of a laxative bolus, followed 

 by diuretics, careful dieting, with good care generally, and 

 the application of cold water and astringents, which tend to 

 strengthen and increase the action of the absorbents, will 

 help the worst cases. 



(Edema. — We are often called upon to prescribe for 

 swellings and enlargements of the legs and body, more 

 frequently the former : say the limbs of a pretty good 

 horse have suddenly become swollen to a slight extent, the 

 interstices of the connective tissue become filled with a 

 serous fluid, derived from the percolation of the watery 

 parts of the blood through the bloodvessels, owing to a 

 weakened condition of the latter. There may, or may not 

 be albumen exuded with the fluid. The worst and most 

 obstinate form is that in which albumen occurs in the 

 exudate. 



Causes.— T\\Q most frequent cause of this condition is 

 debility. Compression also is a cause, as, for instance, a 

 tight bandage, causing venous obstruction, and a consequent 

 enlargement of the part. The enlargement oftenest occurs 

 in one or both hind limbs, and is usually referred to as 

 stocking. \Yorking a horse, and at the same time cutting 

 down the food either in quality or quantity, may also be 

 mentioned as another cause. In other cases it may be due 

 to a debilitated, or poorly fed animal, receiving food of a 

 better quality, and in greater quantities than he has pre- 

 viously been used to. Hence, it will be seen that the 

 trouble may result from two very opposite conditions of the 



