400 
COM PTE RENDU OF THE 
Finally, in other cases, and not the least numerous, traumatic 
phenomena appear almost immediately after the operation. These 
are complicated with a purulent or gangrenous infection, and, after 
the interval of a few days, death succeeds. 
Then, with these facts before us, the truth and accuracy of 
which cannot be doubted, we are unable to say absolutely 
whether an operation for sarcocele should or should not be per- 
formed. Various cases may be imagined in which it maybe per- 
fectly indicated or may be useless, or should be absolutely avoided. 
We ought never to operate at the commencement of the disease. 
To undertake it at that time, when the inflammatory symptoms 
are carried to their highest extent, is to run the danger of consi- 
derable haemorrhage during the operation, and especially after it, 
and of a gangrenous affection at no great distance of time. 
When, after the disappearance of the inflammatory pheno- 
mena, the inguinal tumour is reduced in size, and the symptoms 
of health are returning, and the animal does not appear to suffer 
much, there will be no reason for adopting any severe measures. 
There will be time enough for this at the later period ; but, when 
the acute inflammation has passed, yet the inguinal tumour 
remains hard, red, and painful, or the animal labours under 
a state of low r fever, an operation may, perhaps, be indicated. 
The result of that operation is, indeed, uncertain, but there is no 
other remedy against the evil. 
We will not describe here the manner of the operation, but will 
call the attention of practitioners to some consecutive phenomena, 
which may contribute to lighten several obscure points in the his- 
tory of glanders. 
The extirpation of sarcocele is an operation exceedingly pain- 
ful. In a great number of cases there will be considerable loss 
of flesh, and there will always be a violent re-active fever. It is 
not rare to see in the course of this re-active fever any acute 
eruption on the skin. Pustules will develop themselves on the 
nasal membrane; a discharge of yellow or citrine-coloured fluid 
will also appear, and, in short, acute glanders will be developed. 
This should be foreseen, and it will be prudent to isolate every 
patient before the operation is performed. 
Under the influence of violent traumatic fever, glanders, which 
was previously latent in the economy of the animal, will, per- 
haps, break out all at once under its acute form. 
This result being observed, we have endeavoured to discover 
whether, under the influence of the same cause — an intense trau- 
matic fever — confirmed chronic glanders may not be susceptible 
of transformation, and pass into an acute state. The transfor- 
mation of chronic glanders, latent or confirmed, into acute glan- 
