DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 195 



permanently upon the horse, by increasing the tone and 

 vigor of the secreting, excreting, and .absorbing system, 

 without diminishing or destroying their power. (See 

 Appendix.) 



Althea. Marsh mallows. This plant is generally used in 

 the formation of emollient drinks, as it contains a large 

 amount of mucilage. 



Alum. A mineral astringent, used to destroy proud flesh. 



Amaurosis. A disease of the eye, generally causing total 

 blindness. It may be known by the pupil being large and 

 open ; on passing the hand before the eye, the horse will not 

 avoid it. 



Anasarca. That form of dropsy that affects the whole, or 

 nearly the whole system, or, in other words, an effusion of 

 serum into the meshes of the cellular tissue. 



Anastomosis. The communication of blood-vessels with 

 each other, or their opening one into the other, by which 

 means, when the passage of blood through an artery or vein is 

 prevented by ligature, compression, or any other cause, the 

 circulation is still kept up by means of the anastomosing 

 vessels. 



Anatomy. The science that teaches the structure of the 

 animal economy. 



Analysis. The resolution of compound bodies into their 

 original or constituent principles. 



Anchylosis. The loss of motion in a joint. There are 

 two kinds, called complete and incomplete. In the former, 

 the joint has grown together so as to be immovable ; in the 

 latter, some motion remains, and the rigidity is owing to the 

 contraction and thickening of the ligaments. Anchylosis in 

 the horse is not unfrequently a consequence of wounds or 

 bruises ; the latter, causing an absorption of the fluids that 

 nourish the joint, anchylosis is the result. In bad spavins and 

 ringbones, there is frequently anchylosis of the hock and pas- 

 tern joints. The author's attention has lately been called to 

 a case of ringbone that had been operated upon by some 

 person totally unacquainted with the nature of the disease. 



