LEPBOSY. 139 



of the tongue, where alone can an y outward lesions indicative of lep- 

 rosy be in general discovered ; and even here they are not constant, 

 out are chiefly evident in those animals in which the disease has at- 

 tained to a great height. The progress of leprosy is very insidious, 

 and the eaily symptoms so little marked that a practised eye only 

 can detect them. 



In the onset all that is observable is a certain marked stupidity or 

 obstinacy in the animal; a state of languor and apparent general 

 debility ; an evident thickening of the skin ; a slight adhesion of the 

 bristles; a tendency in the hair to fall off, caused by the develop- 

 ment of a greater or less quantity of those vesicles of which we have 

 spoken, as being scattered in different parts of the fatty tissue, either 

 on its surface or in the interstices of the muscles ; under the coats 

 of the viscera, or on the sides of the tongue. 



In its successive progress this disease attacks the animal economy 

 more or less profoundly without the functions appearing otherwise 

 troubled. There is ulceration of the cellular tissue, and even of the 

 organs that surround or penetrate it : the animal does not however 

 appear to be generally and seriously ill. Far from losing his appe- 

 tite, he is occasionally extremely voracious. He does not appear to 

 suffer in the lungs ; his breath is not embarrassed, nor is his voice 

 hoarser than usual. 



Such is at least what may be observed to take place when the le- 

 prous vesicles are not numerous. It is when they increase in quantity 

 and the disease increases that they begin to affect the health of the 

 patient. He then becomes indifferent to every thing ; moves about 

 slowly; totters as he walks; his eyes are dull; the buccal mem- 

 brane is pale, and sometimes strewed with violet spots. The ex- 

 pired air is fetid, the breathing slow ; the pulse small and irregular, 

 the bristles easily plucked, and sometimes a little blood accompanies 

 them. Strength begins to abandon the patient ; he can no longer 

 sustain himself on his hind legs; the posterior part of the trunk be- 

 comes paralyzed, the body exhales an unpleasant smell ; the skin is 

 thicker, and the cellular tissue is raised in different parts, especially 

 about the kernals of the neck. There is swelling about the roots of 

 the hair, which often proceeds to ulceration ; the skin comes off in 

 patches ; large tumors are developed ; the teeth are ground con 

 vulsively together ; the tongue is dark colored, hot, thickened, and 

 covered with slime ; the body swells ; the animal utters feeble cries 

 of pain, and seldom survives many hours. 



This is a very obstinate disease, probably from its having usually 

 taken so great a hold of the system before it is suspected, and nume- 

 rous have been the medicaments recommended for it. Antimony, 

 sulphur, small and repeated doses of Epsom salts, and general bleed- 

 ings, seem to be the course of treatment most likely to be attended 

 with success ; and these must be aided by strict attention to diet 



