LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 105 
feel on the inner side of the thigh, traversing the course taken by 
the larger branches of the vessels. This has been attributed to an 
inflamed state of the lymphatic vessels, but I am rather of opinion 
that it is alike due to a participation in the general inflammation, 
partly from close proximity and partly from sympathy, of the veins 
and absorbent vessels. The lymphatic glands, more especially 
those of the groin, are undoubtedly inflamed and enlarged, but 
from their obscure situation in the horse their participation is not 
very visible. The duration of this, the acute stage, is generally 
from four to five days. 
The first marked symptom of a subsidence of inflammatory action 
is a decrease in the amount of pain ; the patient walks better, 
imposing more weight on the affected limb. As the pain subsides 
so is there a decrease in the severity of the constitutional symp- 
toms. The animal’s appetite returns, he is more cheerful, displays 
a better countenance, and in some instances there remains no other 
observable symptom that the horse is ill than a thick leg, which 
inconveniences the movement of the limb. It is this stage that 
I have designated the passive, or oedematous. When the inflamed 
vessels of the areolar tissue have relieved themselves by effusion 
of serous parts of the blood, and there being no further cause i n 
action to excite a continuance of the effusion, then the inflamma- 
tory symptoms abate, and in doing so leave effused and effete 
material occupying the interstices of the areolar tissue, to the pre- 
sence of which the limb owes its swollen condition. Yery little 
pain is now experienced under pressure, but there is a marked 
difference in the feel imparted to the fingers. Instead of the skin 
being tense and hard it now pits, i. e. indentations are left where 
the fingers have been applied. This is easily accounted for; nature 
in her wise ordination wills that nothing animate shall remain in 
a state of stagnation, and, consequently, as the inflammatory symp- 
toms recede, the action of the absorbents, which had hitherto been 
impeded, is now more liberated, and therefore sufficient absorption 
ensues to allow of a certain relaxation of the areolar tissue ; hence* 
upon pressure, there being no immediate repulsive force, an inden- 
tation is occasioned. Subsequently, absorption of the infiltrating 
substance occurs, and the leg reassumes its original form. 
Post-mortem appearances . — Never having had the oprortunity of 
making an examination of the limb post-mortem , I am unable to lay 
before you any statistics relative to such appearances. I must, 
therefore, leave them for some of you to comment upon. 
Sequelce . — The morbid conditions resulting from an attack of 
inflammatory oedema are few. A permanent thick callous leg is the 
sequel generally feared most by the practitioner, and is due to a 
deposition of lymph, which by becoming organised renders the leg 
thick and callous to the feel. This consequence is, in a certain sense, 
not very deplorable, as it does not materially interfere with the 
animal’s usefulness, but, on the other hand, greatly decreases its 
value. There is another result of this disease which I am glad to 
say is not of very frequent occurrence ; I allude to that termed 
xliv. 8 
