66 FARCY. 



cavities — and are doing this for the purpose of con- 

 verting them again into nutriment, or of expelling 

 them from the frame. These vessels follow the course 

 of the veins, and are, like them, furnished with 

 valves ; so that, located amidst the muscles, their 

 contents never retrograde, but pursue a forward 

 course to their proper destination. In proportion as 

 the body is weakened, so is the deposit decreased, and 

 the absorption increased. If, therefore, from con- 

 firmed weakness, the absorbents have more to do than 

 they are capable of performing, some of them become 

 clogged. The current which should be constantly 

 flowing is stopped, and the fluid being stagnant de- 

 generates. Inflammation commences, and there are 

 formed little tumours, which suppurate, burst, and 

 ulcerate. 



The absorbents on the surface of the body are in 

 Farcy most affected : where they are diseased there 

 are to be seen small hard cords running along under 

 the skin by the side of the veins; while at certain 

 intervals, there are small tumours or knots (farcy- 

 buds) which break, and small ulcers (farcy-ulcers) 

 remain. 



These buds have some resemblance to the patches on 

 the skin which are known by the name of surfeit ; but 

 they may readily be distinguished from them by their 

 hardness, by their running in lines, and also by the 

 excessive tenderness of every Farcy-bud. 



By degrees the deeper-seated absorbents are in- 

 volved, while the debility naturally induces effusion, 

 and there results painful swelling of the limbs. The 

 disease often commences in, and is sometimes altoge- 



