25 



In purpura, also, the diet should at first be moist and nutritious. The 

 medicinal treatment of this dangerous malady requires great professional 

 skill in order to bring it to a successful termination. The swellings should 

 be fomented, but not punctured. The sores should be kept very clean and 

 dressed with some antiseptic solution, as carbolic acid (one part in forty of 

 water). During recovery tonics are required. 



' GENERAL DISEASES DUE TO ERRORS IN DIETING 

 AND MANAGEMENT. 



.Weed or LympJumgitis^ Diabetes Lisipidus^ Diabetes Mellitiis^ Oxaluria^ 



Azottiria. 



WEED OR LYMPHANGITIS. 



Under this heading we propose to treat of those general diseases of the 

 horse which are in most cases due to dietetic errors, or to some irregularities 

 in the management. Of the diseases of special parts, such as colic, due 

 to similar causes, we shall speak when we have to deal with local diseases. 



The first of the general diseases which we here wish to bring before 

 the notice of our readers is one commonly known in Lincolnshire as 

 *'weed," "the humour," "farcied leg" (though it has no relationship with 

 farcy), sometimes spoken of as the " Monday morning disease," and in 

 scientific language termed "lymphangitis." 



Of this malady it is very essential that all who keep draught horses 

 especially should have some clear knowledge ; for, with due precautions 

 and careful management, it is, in common with some other general diseases of 

 the horse of which we now speak, largely preventible, and very amenable to 

 judicious treatment. Weed is not at all an uncommon disease of the horse ; 

 but we should mention, before entering into details, that it is a special 

 inflammatory malady, and must not be confounded with other forms of 

 disorder such as humour or farcy. 



It is a general affection of the constitution attended by inflammation, 

 beginning in the glands at the upper part of one of the limbs, in most cases 

 a hind one. The leg becomes swollen, and when pressed upon by the 

 finger "pits." In some cases both hind limbs are affected, and in rare 

 instances a fore limb is the seat of the disease. The commonest situation 

 however is the left hind leg. Regarding the nature and causes of weed, we 

 may say that it is a general disorder of Junction, especially associated with 

 impaired digestion and disordered assimilation of the food. It is 

 especially a disease of the heavy draught horse of sluggish lymphatic 

 temperament, and is particularly common among certain breeds of agricultural 

 horses. 



One attack renders an animal more subject to a second, and in many 

 -cases one seizure succeeds another periodically, until the limb becomes 



