3°° THE FARM DOCTOR. 



after all unhealthy action has been subdued, and will materiallf 

 aiminish when preserved from hard work, strains, jars, and .ail 

 excitants to renewed growth. When continuous gentle pressure 

 can be applied without irritation it greatly favours absorption. 

 In some instances the distention of the fibrous membrane cover- 

 ing a bony swelling is the main cause of continued inflammation 

 and lameness. This is to be met by dividing the membrane 

 with a narrow-bladed knife inserted to one side of the swelling, 

 much care being requisite to avoid entrance of air, injury to 

 joints, etc. 



SCROFULOUS (tuberculous) DISEASE OF BONES. 



This is mostly seen in young animals when the bones are soft 

 and growing rapidly, and may be suspected when the patient 

 comes of a tuberculous family. It will attack any part, but is 

 especially common in the lower part of the limbs, and is one 

 form of ^'■foul in the foot." It attacks the ends of long bones or 

 the whole bulk of short ones, those parts, in short, which have 

 an open cancellated texture. The interspaces of the boav 

 tissue fill up with gelatinoid lymph, which may or may not pass 

 into the yellow cheesy tubercle, and similar changes take place 

 on the surface, long outgrowths appearing, the interstices of 

 which are filled by the same product. Ulceration ensues, sores 

 form in the skin, discharging an unhealthy matter, the softened 

 bony tissues may be felt breaking down under a probe, and the 

 ends or processes of the bones may be found detached from the 

 shaft or median part. 



There may be coexisting tubercle in the lungs, bowels, etc., 

 with cough, expectoration, diarrhoea, etc., and sometimes in 

 young animals the navel remains open and the urine dribbles 

 from it continually. 



Treatment is hardly advisable, as tuberculous animals are un- 

 desirable alike for breeding or for human food. It consists in 

 securing a good nurse, well fed on grain as well as fodder if the 



