362 FARCY. 



human attendant on diseased horses should be very careful 

 to avoid any contact with the matter of glanders ; which if 

 by any means it should reach an abraded part, or the sur- 

 face of any mucous membrane, will fatally inoculate the 

 individual. After all, from the numerous remedies which 

 have been tried to cure glanders, we may learn that 

 none have been very successful ; all may warrant hope, 

 but not one justifies confidence. If, however, we have not 

 learnt to cure glanders, modern science has found out 

 means to prevent the disease. By perfect drainage and free 

 ventilation the glanders is, in a great measure, to be set at 

 defiance. The other part of the remedy is never to pursue 

 the depletive mode of cure too far ; but to stay before our 

 measures intended to master a complaint undermine tbe 

 constitution : by following these two rules, we may keep the 

 glanders in subjection. 



FARCY. 



From what has preceded, it will appear that glanders and 

 farcy are fully proved to be modifications only of each 

 other. Farcy was long considered to be a disease of the 

 veins ; which error was natural enough, seeing the absorbent 

 vessels, in which the virus travels, were then considered as 

 a species of veins. We are now, however, aware that tbis 

 disease, in its local or early state, is a specific inflammation 

 of the superficial absorbents: experience has also taught us, 

 that as long as its attack remains thus confined to the 

 surface, it is not difficult to cure ; but when it has en- 

 tered the constitution it generally proves fatal, and inva- 

 riably ends in glanders : and then, in return, acute glanders 

 is very apt to end in, and almost invariably does, in farcy. 

 Farcy is, however, not confined to the superficial parts of 

 the body alone, for it may be occasionally met with in every 

 part of the frame ; but the head, neck, and extremities, par- 

 ticularly the hinder ones, are the parts most generally 

 affected ; by which it would seem to choose those situa- 

 tions in wbich absorbent glands are most numerous, or are 

 furthest from the heart, and therefore most active in absorb- 

 ing. It is usual to feel for farcy buds, in a suspicious 

 case, upon the inside of the thighs, where, though none 

 shall be found, the hard corded absorbent vessels may gene- 



