134 MR. youatt’s veterinary lectures. 
The Progress of the Inflammation. —It is inflammation, whe¬ 
ther specific or common, of the pituitary membrane—possibly 
for months, and even for years, confined to that membrane, and 
even to a portion of it—the health and the usefulness of the 
animal not in the slightest degree impaired. Then, from some 
unknown cause, not a new but an intenser action is set up; the 
inflammation more speedily runs its course, and the membrane 
becomes ulcerated, and the ulcerations spread on either side, 
down the septum, and along the pharynx, the larynx, and the 
trachea. The ulceration spreads through the medium of the 
absorbents—the superficial absorbents first. The secretion is of 
so acrimonious a nature, that the vessels through which it passes 
take on inflammation; and the virus accumulating about the 
valves of the absorbents, the inflammation runs higher there, 
and ulceration speedily follows, and assumes that peculiar chan- 
crous form which characterizes inflammation of these vessels. 
Observe these specimens; see, running along the course of the 
main trunk of the absorbents of the membrane of the septum, 
or radiating from it, these distinct and separate ulcerations, and 
mark the elevated line which connects one with another. The 
simple increased secretion does not empoison, or even excoriate, 
the membrane, nor does it produce any constitutional affection 
while the membrane remains sound ; but, ulceration having once 
commenced, the disease is propagated from part to part, and 
with more or less rapidity, through the medium of the absor¬ 
bents, and the whole frame becomes vitiated. This more general 
and constitutional affection we term farcy. When the air- 
passages and the respiratory organs alone are involved, we deno¬ 
minate it glanders . 
The Lungs not the primary Seat of Disease. —It is plain that 
the lungs are nojt the primary seat of disease. When they are 
affected, it is by continuity of membrane, and by the gradual 
spread of inflammation and ulceration. In some of the cases 
which I mentioned in my last lecture, and which were suffered 
to run their course, the lungs were sound. In the majority of 
cases the inflammation or disorganization was confined to the 
lung corresponding with the nostril whence the discharge had 
proceeded. When the lungs do seem to participate in the dis¬ 
ease, they are comparatively but slightly affected. There are 
miliary tubercles, but with only slight congestion, and no ul¬ 
ceration. Where vomicae are found, peripneumony had preceded 
or accompanied glanders, and was excited by other causes. In 
latent or insidious glanders there is no poison in the blood, no 
unhealthy state of the system ; every function is fully and per- 
