74 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



lower part of the neck behind the shoulders, on the back, 

 and in the inguinal region. 



They may appear as small rounded nodosities, about the 

 size of a walnut, and having as it were a pedunculated 

 base. 



In other cases the tumours appear suddenly as large, soft, 

 crepitating, undefined swellings, and invade many surround- 

 ing parts. As they rapidly extend they become cold and 

 insensible, and vesicles or phlyctense appear on the surface. 

 These vesicles, quickly bursting, discharge an irritant serous 

 fluid. If the hand be passed over these swellings crepita- 

 tion may be felt. This is due to gas from the decomposition 

 of the tissues collecting in the connective-tissue, and thus 

 rendering the part emphysematous. This is a special 

 feature of the tumours of anthrax. 



Sometimes the tumours appear without being preceded 

 by any very marked symptoms, and their course is in all 

 cases the more rapid the earlier they make their appearance. 

 In two to eight hours they attain a large size, and the 

 surrounding tissues mortify as they are invaded. 



As the tumours are developed, the fever abates and the 

 urgent symptoms vanish. When they have attained a 

 certain proportion, general symptoms are developed, which 

 vary according as the malady takes a favourable course or 

 not. 



In some rare cases the tissue of the tumours is suddenly 

 absorbed, and abundant sweats and fetid diarrhoea ensue, 

 and the animal recovers rapidly. In some cases the tumour 

 disappears by resolution, but generally the tumours vanish, 

 and coincidently the disease assumes all the characters of 

 anthrax fever without local manifestations; the general 

 symptoms reappear, and the horse dies in about twelve 

 hours. 



