STRANGLES. 43 



at the expense of what remains of the tissue, and eventually 

 destroy it. 



FEBRA PYOGENICA, OR STRANGLES. 



As an example of suppurative disease, associated with a 

 varying degree of febrile disturbance, we have in the horse what 

 from time immemorial has been termed StrauG^les. The oriojin 

 of the term strangles arises from the fact that in some cases 

 it is associated with symptoms of choking or strangulation, 

 and it w^as divided by the old writers into simple and bastard 

 strangles; the first form being that which ran a regular course, 

 and the second consisting in the formation of multiple or suc- 

 cessive abscesses. 



Simple strangles may be defined to be a febrile disease, 

 generally attacking young horses, and terminating in the 

 ibrmation of an abscess or abscesses in the areolar tissue of 

 the submaxillary space. 



Irregular or bastard strangles, on the other hand, is a very 

 grave affection, in which the connective tissue of the lympha- 

 tics of the submaxillary region, and sometimes the salivary 

 glands, are the seat of acute suppurative inflammation, asso- 

 ciated with a low febrile state of the system, a tendency to 

 suppurative action in various parts of the animal body, more 

 especially in the mesenteric, bronchial, axillary, and inguinal 

 glands, and to purulent infiltrations in the parenchyma of 

 organs or into the subcutaneous areolar tissue. 



It is thought by some that strangles is contagious, from the 

 circumstance that when one case occurs in a stud others very 

 often soon follow. This, however, is not sufficient proof of its 

 being contagious. It is a debateable point whether strangles 

 is contagious or not. Many proofs can be brought forward in 

 support of either view, some observers stating tliat they have 

 induced it in inoculation — Gohier, Eeynal, Toggia. In some 

 instances — like typhoid fever of man — it seems contagious to 

 some extent, while in others it shows no tendency to spread 

 by this mode. My own experience leads me to conclude that 

 it is a non-contagious disease, but whilst tliere is still any doubt 

 about the matter, it is better to take precautions against its 

 diffusion by separating the affected from the healthy. 



Although it is generally found to attack young horses, it is 



