350 THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF FARCY. 



stimulant plan of proceeding than by any other known treatment. 

 In fine, if we do but examine the various remedies which have, 

 with any colouring of '' cure," been from time to time held up to 

 us, we shall find that the majority of them are of a description 

 possessing these properties. 



Tonics, then, and such as are known to be serviceable in 

 glanders, are in general the most likely remedies to prove useful 

 in farcy- I do not mean to assert that it is a matter of indiffer- 

 ence whether for farcy we prescribe copper or iron or mercury or 

 barytes. At the same time that I believe tonic and diuretic pro- 

 perties to be the leading requisites for a remedy for farcy to pos- 

 sess, I believe that some medicines possessing these virtues, either 

 one or both of them, are to be preferred to others. As for specifics 

 or antidotes for farcy, we certainly know of none. It is the cir- 

 cumstances of farcy so often assuming and continuing in a local 

 form — confining itself to one hind (or fore) limb, of the cutis vera 

 being its seat, and of the constitution, so long as it remains un- 

 tainted by absorbed virus, being disposed to take on healthful 

 action ; I say, it is these several circumstances that enable us to 

 arrest the course of the disease, as well as to remove any sequelce 

 of it, which may annoy or interfere with progression ; and though 

 perhaps, after all, topical applications, and exercise, and regimen 

 altogether, have had a good deal of influence in working this 

 amendment, yet, should the patient at the time happen to be taking 

 any medicine, the amendment is commonly ascribed to that, and 

 the medicine henceforth goes forth to the world as a specific for 

 farcy. In this way may we account for the number of " specifics" 

 we have had, first and last, for farcy beyond all other diseases ; 

 many medicines having got names as " curatives" when future 

 trials of them have shewn that the real curative agent has been 

 the Vis Medicatrix Naturae, powerfully operative in a sound 

 condition of the constitution. 



Sulphate of Copper, Diniodide of Copper, Sulphate 

 OF Iron, Mercury, Iodine, Cantharides, Barytes, all have 

 their advocates, as remedies for farcy, as well as for their being 

 remedial in glanders. In regard to their exhibition, the directions 

 already given for their administration in glanders will equally 



