412 LYMPHITIS. 



at least for years to come; while in old horses the diseased 

 limb is seldom or ever reduced — it remains permanently thick- 

 ened, and the animal is extremely liable to have acute or sub- 

 acute attacks of the same disease periodically. In the majority 

 of cases, again, the malady is usually confined to a hind leg, and 

 that on the left side ; sometimes both limbs are affected, but 

 never, as far as I have seen, very acutely at the same time ; the 

 left limb might be attacked acutely, and some time afterwards 

 the right one, but never both limbs simultaneously. I have 

 also found that if the disease be treated according to the old 

 mode, namely — by bleeding and purging, that horses so treated 

 are more prone to be again attacked than if not so treated. 



PATHOGNOMOisric Stmptoms. — Tlw lympliatic glands situa- 

 ted at the top, and upon the inner surface of the limh afected, 

 are enlarged, inflariied, and acutely painful. 



Causes. — The predisposing causes are simple ; the chief of 

 of them are — peculiarity of breed ; the regular giving of very 

 nutritious food in too great abundance ; previous attacks of the 

 same disease ; old age ; and sudden changing of the animal 

 from a poor to a rich diet. The immediate, or exciting causes, 

 are — heavy blows upon the limbs ; severe scratclies and cuts ; 

 sudden over-exertion ; working of the animal in water, or very 

 wet ground ; the sudden checking of old discharges from diseased 

 limbs — such as grease, bad thrushes, etc. ; allow^ing the animal 

 to stand in cold draughts when perspiring freely, or checking 

 the perspiration suddenly by riding him into a stream of cold 

 water. 



Teeatmekt. — The best remedies and modes of treatment 

 to pursue with this disease in general are — Aconite 1 and -e-, 



