FARCY. 491 



sinuses penetrate deep beneath the shoulder, and the bones 

 of the withers are frequently exposed. These abscesses are 

 termed poll evil and fistulous withers, and in the treatment of 

 them the horse is often tortured to a dreadful extent. A better 

 mode of management has, however, been introduced ; setons 

 are passed through the most dependent parts ; no collection of 

 sanious fluid is j)ermitted to exist, and milder stimulants are 

 applied to the surface of the ulcer. 



An abscess of a peculiar character is found between the 

 branches of the lower jaw in young horses. It is preceded by 

 some degree of fever. It is usually slow in its progress, but at 

 length it attains a considerable size, including the whole of the 

 cellular tissue in that neighborhood. There is one uniform 

 mass of tumefaction. This is strangles. It seems to be an effort 

 of nature to get rid of something that oppresses the constitution, 

 and the treatment of it is now simple and effectual. It is 

 encouraged by fomentation and blisters. It is punctured as 

 soon as the fluctuations of a fluid within it can be fairly de- 

 tected ; the pus speedily escapes, and there is an end of the 

 matter. 



Farcy. — While the arterial capillaries are engaged in build- 

 ing up the frame, the absorbents are employed in removing that 

 which is not only- useless, but would be poisonous and destruc- 

 tive. They take up the matter of glanders and of every ulcer- 

 ating surface, and they are occasionally irritated, inflamed, and 

 ulcerated, from the acrimonious nature of the poison which they 

 carry ; the absorbents are furnished with numerous valves ; the 

 fluid is for a while arrested b}^ them, and there the inflammation 

 is greatest, and ulceration takes place. This is the history of 

 the farcy-cords and buds. Farcy is a highly contagious disease, 

 whether or not it be connected with glanders. It, however, 

 occasionally admits of cure, from the application of the cautery 

 to the buds, and the administration of the corrosive sublimate or 

 the sulj)hate of iron internally. 



The skin of the horse is subject to various diseases. Large 

 pimples or lumps suddenly appear upon it, and, after remaining 

 a few days, the cuticle peels off, and a circular scaly spot is left. 

 This is called surfeit. The cause is obscure, but principally 

 referable to indigestion. A slight bleeding will always be 



