THE HORSE, DISEASES OF THE NASAL GLANDS, ETC. ^0^ 



Speaking now of the farcy as a distinct disease, it is to be regarded as 

 a general poisoned condition of the horse — the poison having its imme- 

 diate origin in an ulcerated condition of the lymphatic glands ; and it« 

 remote origin in whatever tends to disorder these lymphatics. The 

 remote causes are often found in constitutional or inherited tendencies, 

 but more frequently, no doubt, in neglect and abuse — some of the forms 

 which these take on being ovei-work and under-feeding; lack of the 

 curry-comb and brush ; exposure to the foul atmosphere of dark, damp 

 stables, and their accumulations of filth. 



The glands so affected are more numerous along the jaws, neck, and 

 flanks than elsewhere near the skin. Some species of poison is taken 

 into the system of the animal, which manifests itself by an enlaro^ement 

 of some of these glands into the hp,rd, rounded lumps, called farci/^buds^ 

 or buttons, which presently secrete and discharge dangerous infectious 

 matter. The absorbents whose office it is to remove useless particles 

 from the body, take up from beneath the skin some of this virus -, they 

 inflame with it and swell ; and by their connection with the veins give the 

 latter a corded, swollen appearance. The poison, of course, finally 

 reaches the veins and is mingled with the blood ; by the blood it is 

 conveyed to every part of the system. Acting upon the valves of the 

 veins — ^those little membranous sacs which assist in orivins: the blood a 

 uniform tendency towards the heart — the poison creates new knots or 

 buttons, and thus they mcrease until many portions of the skin are 

 covered with putrid ulcers 



The first existence of an ulcerous condition may not be upon any visible 

 portion of the body. Minute poisonous ulcerations may arise in the 

 recesses of the nose, and discharge so slightly as to escape observation 

 until the general system is thoroughly inoculated with the virus. 



It is, however, extremely capricious in its manifestations ; probably 

 owing more to the peculiarities of different animals than to any difference 

 as to either immediate or remote causes of the disease itself. It occa- 

 sionally takes on a lingering form, and will continue for months and 

 years ; again it will run its course and kill the horse in an incredibly 

 Bhort time. 



It is extremely contagious in all its stages, and is communicable not 

 only to other brutes, but to man. 



How to know it — it is difficult to give in few words such directions 

 as enable the unprofessional and inexperienced reader readily to detect 

 this disease in its inoipiency, and to distinguish, in its somewhat advanced 

 state, between it and some other diseases which have, occasionally similar 

 manifestations. It often perplexes by the different forms it assumes ; 

 but close attention to the following particulars and a wide-awake interest. 



