384 ON VETERINARY NOMENCLATURE. 
appellation, seeing itscharacters are a hard circumscribed tumour, 
exceedingly painful, with tension and burning heat in the sub- 
cutaneous cellular tissue. This is often depressed in its centre, 
and sometimes preceded by a small and almost imperceptible 
opening. The tumour, though small at first, suddenly increases 
in size, sometimes to that of a child’s head. Grangrene soon 
supervenes, beginning in the centre and extending to the 
circumference, which rapidly converts the whole into an eschar 
of a black colour, similar to a piece of charcoal ; hence its name 
( charbon ). This eschar is sometimes several inches in dia- 
meter, and is almost always either preceded or accompanied by 
phlyctence , which form a sort of areola around it. There is also 
always an oedematous swelling more or less considerable, owing 
to an emphysematous state, and an infiltration of serum or sero- 
gelatine into the cellular tissue, which crepitates on pressure, 
caused by the presence of gases. The danger and rapidity of 
the disease are such, that, when an animal is attacked after 
a violent access of fever, it falls a sacrifice to it in a few hours, 
rarely exceeding twenty-four or thirty-six. All animals are 
subject to it, but the herbivora more so than others. It is 
either epizootic or enzootic : the first is the most destructive. 
The Causes are heavy fogs, damp air, fetid emanations, 
arising from the decomposition of animal and vegetable sub- 
stances ; the continued sojourn in marshy pastures during 
summer heat in the day time, succeeded by cold nights, and the 
contact or accidental inoculation from diseased animals. 
Treatment. — Nothing short of deeply incising, or extirpa- 
tion followed by cauterisation with the iron heated almost to 
fusion, will avail, followed by a rational internal treatment, 
acidulated drinks, and spare diet ; and even this is too often 
unavailing. To attempt to check the progress of this disease by 
the ordinary antiphlogistic means, such as bleeding, &c., is mere 
waste of time. As auxiliary to the foregoing, many tonics have 
been recommended, such as boiling vinegar or oil, spirit of tur- 
pentine, liquor ammonia, &c. ; but the preference is generally 
given to the chloride of sodium, either in its pure state or diluted 
with a proper quantity of water. In the incision or extirpation of 
these tumours, the practitioner should take great care not to cut 
himself, or to operate if he has any scratches or cuts about his 
hands. Many veterinary surgeons have been the victims of 
this want of precaution. The French recommend strong leather 
gloves, so as to effectually protect the hands, even for the mere 
exploration of the tumours. 
