PATHOLOGICAL FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 427 
practical persons are always entitled to some respect; but because 
I have often had occasion to notice something of the same kind 
myself. I have frequently seen young horses looking unkindly 
in their coats; exhibiting a general unhealthy appearance, with a 
disposition to cough and sore throat, and continuing in this state 
of obstinate thriftlessness for even months together, previously to 
showing what is commonly called strangles; as if there was a 
struggle in the system to throw off something that oppressed it, and 
which it wanted power, or had not sufficient vigour to overcome. 
But the period of strangles once passed, I have often been struck 
with the remarkable change that has taken place in the condition 
of the same individuals, who generally then begin to thrive and 
improve rapidly. 
When, therefore, we look upon strangles as something local 
trivial, or scarcely deserving of much attention, we are, I think, 
taking but a very superficial view of the matter. Its constitu¬ 
tional nature may not, indeed, in most cases, be clearly de¬ 
veloped : it may be something difficult to grasp, or even beyond 
our reach ; yet, we should never forget that this forms an essen¬ 
tial, nay, I may say, the only important part of its character. 
Our imperfect knowledge of the real nature of this disease has 
been admitted by some of our best veterinary writers. “All I 
know of its specific character, ” says Percivall, “is the universality 
of its attacks, the age of the subject, and the slight accompany¬ 
ing febrile derangement; even in these, its peculiar characters, 
it manifests great irregularity.” Most of the older authors on 
farriery, however, and some of them appear to have possessed 
considerable talent for observation, looked upon the process of 
strangles as “ discharging something obnoxious to the constitu¬ 
tion of young horses, by which they are rendered more healthful 
than they w r ere before.” And White, who, I think, is by no 
means bad authority in mattters of this kind, observes that, 
“ when strangles occurs at grass, and goes through a regular form 
without the interference of art, it accomplishes the purpose for 
which it w r as designed, that of invigorating the constitution.” 
My friend, Professor Dick, of Edinburgh, also remarks (in his 
Lectures), that this is perhaps a much more complicated disease 
than is generally supposed; that, although it commonly termi¬ 
nates by an abscess under the jaw 7 , yet it may, and occasionally 
does, give rise to collections of matter on other parts of the 
surface. He has noticed this taking place more especially 
about the tops of the shoulders, and in the neighbourhood of the 
axilla; and has sometimes seen a second formation of matter in 
the same part after a long interval, even that of a year. 
Now, I myself have witnessed many curious facts relative to 
