ON FARCY. 
273 
arrested, or, rather, it is another substance which will be de¬ 
composed and destroyed—the virus which was so actively em¬ 
ployed. The foetor removed, and the virus in some measure 
destroyed, the ulcers should be frequently washed with some 
stimulating lotion. I know none better than the diluted nitric 
acid, in the proportion of one part of the acid to eight of water. 
This may be often and freely applied, and occasionally doubled 
in strength, if the appearance of the wounds is not satisfactory— 
resorting again to the chloride of lime, if any sanious discharge 
or foetor should return. Mr. Turner recommends a strong solu- 
tion of the sulphate of iron in these cases, plentifully applied 
over the ulcers, and well rubbed into the sound part. 
The Constitutional Treatment. —Farcy, however, can scarcely 
be considered as a mere local disease. It occupies so large a 
surface, and threatens to involve, and speedily involves, so much 
more, that we eagerly inquire for some auxiliary which will 
affect the constitution generally. Have we that which will sup¬ 
port the frame against the ravages of the disease, or which 
w T ill excite a different, and as powerful an action over the various 
tissues? Tonics are plainly indicated. Practitioners have 
again and again gone through the whole list of them, vegetable 
and mineral, and too often without the desired effect; almost 
invariably so, when considerable disorganization has taken place; 
and, I fear, in the majority of cases, when the disease is attacked 
in an earlier stage. That which I have found to be most useful, 
and on which I believe practitioners generally place the greatest 
dependence, is the bi-chloride of mercury (corrosive sublimate), 
in doses of from five grains to a scruple, morning and night, first 
dissolved in alcohol, and given in a pint of gruel. It is extra¬ 
ordinary how long this medicine may sometimes be given without 
affecting either the bowels or the salivary glands. It must, how¬ 
ever, be carefully watched, and given in diminished doses, or 
omitted altogether, when ptyalism is produced. Mr. Turner 
adheres here, as in glanders, to the sulphate of iron, given in 
solution, as the ordinary drink of the horse. As for arsenic, 
subacetate of copper, and sulphate of copper, I must acknowledge 
that I have rarely seen any good effect produced; and the vege¬ 
table tonics are not here sufficiently energetic. The effect must 
be rapidly produced, and must be intense. Mashes, green meat, 
carrots, are excellent auxiliaries,—they are, in fact, indispensable. 
Mr. Blaine tells us, that a horse, so reduced by farcy as not to 
be able to stand, was drawn on a hurdle into a field of tares, 
and left there to take his chance. When he had eaten all 
within his reach, he continued to scramble a little further in 
search of more, and at length got up, and ultimately recovered. 
VOL. V. P p 
