120 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



LYMPHANGITIS 



We will discuss in this article that form of lymphan- 

 gitis which, despite modern bacteriologic thought, is best 

 described as an idiopathic lymphangitis. We choose to 

 confine our discussion to this form of the disease because, 

 in our opinion, all other forms are preceded by this one. 

 Further, this is the most common form of lymphangitis. 

 We do not agree with those over-enthusiastic bacteriolo- 

 gists who ascribe all attacks of lymphangitis in horses to 

 infection following an injury. In a practice covering a 

 considerable period of time, we have not been able to 

 adopt this view; the clinical evidence has not been suffi- 

 ciently ample to demonstrate the correctness of such a 

 theory. On the other hand, so markedly contrary to this 

 theory is the clinical evidence that we consider the old 

 name of "Monday morning sickness" most appropriate. 

 Clinically, lymphangitis in horses is, in most instances, 

 a functional disturbance, primarily innocent of bac- 

 teriologic taint. When we refer to lymphangitis in vet- 

 erinary subjects, we mean, as a rule, that typical form 

 of lymphangitis affecting a pelvic limb. While lymphan- 

 gitis, or inflammatory processes in lymphatic vessels, is 

 possible in any part of the body, the term lymphangitis in 

 veterinary literature has come to stand almost wholly for 

 that form affecting a pelvic limb. In rare instances lym- 

 phangitis, or a generalized congestion and inflammation 

 of the lymphatics, has been reported as occurring in a 

 pectoral limb. 



While lymphangitis is somewhat more common in 

 young horses, it occurs with almost equal frequency in 

 mature or aged horses that are in thriving condition. Un- 

 thrifty, weakly animals are not often affected by this 

 disease in any of its forms. Animals heavily fed on grain 

 with an under-proportioned share of work are predis- 



