WEED IN HORSES. 
40tf 
sies from taking place, by removing the superfluous secretion ; 
they also remove the worn-out parts of the body into the circu- 
lation, either to invigorate other parts of the system, or to be 
thrown off* as excrementitious. 
“The disease called weed , or by farriers shots of grease , is in- 
flammation of the absorbents and their glands. The class of 
absorbents that are principally affected in this disease are the 
superficial and deep-seated lymphatics of the hind extremi- 
ties ; the first having their origin in the skin and cutaneous cel- 
lular membrane, where they form numerous ramifications run- 
ning along with the superficial veins : a very large branch 
may be distinctly felt, when distended, by the side of the saphena 
major vein of the thigh. The deep-seated take their origin from 
the feet, and descend along with the corresponding bloodvessels. 
Both the superficial and deep-seated form a beautiful anasto- 
motic net-work, and all assemble in the superficial and deep- 
seated glands of the groin — the inguinal — there they enter and 
form a plexus, from whence several large branches proceed to their 
common termination, the thoracic duct. In this disease the 
glands of the groin become inflamed, swelled, and tender. The 
fluid passing upwards in the vessels is thereby checked, and the 
vessel in consequence becomes distended, as far down as the 
next valve, and so on to the next downwards. The whole vessels 
are thereby soon distended ; the leg becomes enormously swollen, 
and large quantities of lymph and serum are thrown out from the 
arteries and absorbents into the surrounding cellular membrane, 
which, in some cases, it takes the whole of after-life to remove. 
“ Weed generally commences with a shivering fit, and all the 
other appearances of fever. If the finger be placed upon the 
groin, the absorbent glands will be found firm and painful, and 
the animal snatches up his leg when pressure is applied. The 
principal absorbent vessels along the thigh are fully distended, 
and from their being in the course of the vein are often mistaken 
for the veins themselves. The leg begins to swell from above 
downward, in consequence of the channels being obliterated in 
the glands, until the vessels become loaded to their minutest 
ramifications. This causes excessive irritation, and the action of 
the arteries becomes increased in consequence of the pain. The 
absorbent vessels are now blocked up, and unable to relieve 
themselves. The consequence of which is, that large quantities 
of blood, lymph, and serum are thrown out into the surrounding 
cellular membrane in a few hours, so as often to enlarge the leg 
to twice its natural thickness. The effusion may also at times 
extend to the sheath, belly, and udder. In some rare cases sup- 
