342 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



quently takes place in the course of from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours. It will be perceived, therefore, that the local affection 

 is not proportionate, in degree or extent, to the severity and 

 magnitude of the general symptoms ; therefore it is a general 

 disease. 



The autopsy clearly indicates the ravages which this epi- 

 zootic or enzootic makes on the general economy. Youatt 

 informs us that " The chief appearances after death will be 

 venous congestion every where. It affects both of the pleurae, 

 the whole substance of the lungs, brain, and peritoneum ; the 

 intestines and stomach are also affected." Therefore, what we 

 perceive externally, in the form of tumors, emsphysema, ulcers, 

 sloughing, and mortification, are only the symptoms of a gen- 

 eral malady. Mr. Ernes informs us, through the pages of The 

 Veterinarian, that " black-quarter" (which is the same as ""black 

 leg") is neither more nor less than that (ii'eadful malady of 

 horses and cattle called by the French charhon. Anthrax, 

 would, perhaps, be the better appellation, seeing its characters 

 are a hard, circumscribed tumor, exceedingly painful, with ten- 

 sion and burning heat in the subcutaneous cellular tissue. This 

 is often depressed in its centre, and sometimes preceded by a 

 small opening. 



According to authorities, "the tunaor of black leg, though small 

 at first, suddenly increases in size, sometimes to that of a child's 

 head. Gangrene soon supervenes, beginning in the centre and 

 extending to the circumference, which rapidly converts the 

 whole into an eschar of a black color, similar to a piece of 

 charcoal ; hence its name (charhon). The eschar is sometimes 

 several inches in diameter, and is almost always either preceeded 

 or accompanied by bladders, which form a sort of areola around 

 it. There is also always an oidematous swelling, more or less 

 considerable, owing to an emphysematous state, and an infiltra- 

 tion of serum or sero-gelatine into the cellular tissue, which 

 crackles on pressure, caused by the presence of gases. The 

 danger and rapidity of the disease are such, that, when an an- 

 imal is attacked, after a violent access of fever, it falls a sac- 

 rifice to it in a few hours, rarely exceeding twenty-four or 



