130 ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 



account for the left leg failing oftener than the right, for we mount and dismount on 

 the left side; the horse generally leads with it, and there is more Avear and tear of 

 that limb : but we cannot satisfactorily account for this usual aflection of the left nos- 

 tril. It is true that the reins are held in the left hand, and there may be a little more 

 bearing and pressure on the left side of the mouth; but this applies only to saddle- 

 horses, and even with them does not sufficiently explain the result. 



This discharge, in cases of infection, may continue, and in so slight a degree as to 

 be scarcely perceptible, for many months, or even two or three years, unattended by 

 any other disease, even ulceration of the nostril, and yet the horse being decidedly 

 glandered from the beginning, and capable of propagating the malady. In process 

 of time, however, pus mingles with the discharge, and then another and a characteris- 

 tic symptom appears. Some of this is absorbed, and the neighbouring glands become 

 afiected. If there is discharge from both nostrils, the glands within the under jaw- 

 will be on both sides enlarged. If the discharge is from one nostril only, the swelled 

 gland will be found on that side alone. Glanders, however, will frequently exist at 

 an early stage without these swelled glands, and some other diseases, as catarrh, will 

 produce them. Then we must look out for some peculiarity about these glands, and 

 we shall readily find it. The swelling may be at first somewhat large and diffused, 

 but the surrounding enlargement soon goes off, and one or two small distinct glands 

 remain ; and they are not in the centre of the channel, but adhere closely iu the Jaw on 

 the ojfcded side. 



The membrane of the nose should now lie examined, and will materially guide our 

 opinion. It will either be of a dark purplish hue, or almost of a leaden colour, or of 

 any shade between the two; or if there is some of the redness of inflammation, it will 

 have a purple tinge : but there will never be the faint pink blush of health, or the 

 intense and vivid red of usual inflannnation. Spots of ulceration will probably appear 

 on the membrane covering the cartilage of the ncse — not mere sore places, or streaks 

 of abrasion, and quite superficial, but small ulcers, usually approaching to a circular 

 form, deep, and with the edges abrupt and prominent. When these appearances are 

 observed, there can be no douljt about the matter. Care should be taken, however, to 

 ascertain that these ulcers do actually exist, for spots of mucus adhering to the mem- 

 brane have been more than once taken for them. The finger should, if possible, be 

 passed over the supposed ulcer, in order to determine whether it can be wiped away; 

 and it should be recollected, as was hinted when describing the duct that conveys the 

 tears to the nose, that the orifice of thlit duct, just within the nostril, and on the inner 

 side of it, has been mistaken for a chancrous ulcer. This orifice is on the continua- 

 tion of the common skin of the muzzle which runs a little way up the nostril, while 

 the ulcer of glanders is on tl-.e proper membrane of the nose above. The line of sepa- 

 ration between the two is evident on the slightest inspection. 



When ulcers begin to appear on the membrane of the nose, the constitution of the 

 horse is soon evidently affected. The patient loses flesh — his belly is tucked up — 

 his coat unthrifty, and readily coming off — the appetite is impaired — the strength fails 

 — cough, more or less urgent, may be heard — the discharge from the nose will increase 

 in quantity ; it will be discoloured, bloody, offensive to the smell — the ulcers in the 

 nose will become larger and more numerous, and the air-passages being obstructed, a 

 grating, choking noise will be heard at every act of breathing. There is now a 

 peculiar tenderness about the forehead. The membrane lining the frontal sinuses is 

 inflamed and ulcerated, and the integument of the forehead becomes thickened and 

 somewhat swelled. Farcy is now superadded to glanders, or glanders has degene- 

 rated into farcy, and more of the absorbents are involved. 



At or before this time little tumours appear about the muscles, and face, and neck, 

 following the course of the veins and the aljsorbents, for they run side by side; and 

 these the tumours soon ulcerate. Tumours or buds, still pursuing the path of the 

 absorbents, soon appear on the inside of the thighs. They are connected toijether by 

 a corded substance. This is the inflamed and enlarged lymphatic ; and ulceration 

 quickly follows the appearance of these buds. The deeper-seated absorbents are next 

 affected ; and one or both of the hind-legs swell to a great size, and become stiff, and 

 hot, and tender. The loss of flesh and strength is more marked every day. Tho 

 iDQembrane of the nose becomes of a dirty livid colour, Tiie membrane of the mouth 



