106 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



peculiarly an aftection of the higher-bred horses, and is due 

 to inherited taint, frequently associated with malhygienic 

 conditions and improper management. It is attended with 

 mal-assimilation of food ; and in its treatment special care 

 must be taken to correct the hygienic and dietetic errors. 

 If one of the affected joints be examined, the synovial 

 membrane will be found to be thickened and changed, the 

 joint itself is distended with fluid, and the cartilages and 

 ends of the bones will be found in a condition of retrogres- 

 sive change. 



LYMPHANGITIS. 



Synonyms. — ' Weed;' inflammatory oedema. 



Definition. — A constitutional aff'ection, attended with 

 inflammation, commencing in the lymphatic glands and 

 spreading to the absorbents and blood-vessels of one of the 

 limbs, in most cases a hind one, which becomes swollen and 

 cedematous. In some cases both hind limbs are aff*ected,. 

 and, in rare instances, a fore-limb is the seat of the disease. 

 The commonest seat, however, is the left hind-leg. 



Nature of the Disease. — 'Weed' is to be regarded as a 

 general disturbance of function, especially associated with 

 mal-assimilation and impaired digestion. It is especially a 

 disease of the heavy draught-horses of sluggish lymphatic 

 temperament, and is particularly common among certain 

 kinds of agricultural horses. 



An attack renders the animal more subject to a recur- 

 rence of the disorder; and in many cases one seizure succeeds 

 another periodically, until the limb assumes a permanently 

 enlarged condition, termed ^elephantiasis.' 



Etiology. — Predisposing cause : Lymphatic or sluggish 

 temperament, generally inherited. 



Exciting Causes : Foremost among the exciting causes is 

 feeding beyond the requirements of healthy nutrition. Oes- 



