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LEPROSY.

of the tongue, where alone can any outward lesions indicative of leprosy be in general discovered; and even here they are not constant, out are chiefly evident in those animals in which the disease has attained to a great height. The progress of leprosy is very insidious, and the early symptoms so little marked that a practised eye only can detect them.

In the onset all that is observable is a certain marked stupidity or obstinacy in the animal; a state of languor and apparent general debility; an evident thickening of the skin; a slight adhesion of the bristles; a tendency in the hair to fall off, caused by the development of a greater or less quantity of those vesicles of which we have spoken, as being scattered in different parts of the fatty tissue, either on its surface or in the interstices of the muscles; under the coats of the viscera, or on the sides of the tongue.

In its successive progress this disease attacks the animal economy more or less profoundly without the functions appearing otherwise troubled. There is ulceration of the cellular tissue, and even of the organs that surround or penetrate it: the animal does not however appear to be generally and seriously ill. Far from losing his appetite, he is occasionally extremely voracious. He does not appear to suffer in the lungs; his breath is not embarrassed, nor is his voice hoarser than usual.

Such is at least what may be observed to take place when the leprous vesicles are not numerous. It is when they increase in quantity and the disease increases that they begin to affect the health of the patient. He then becomes indifferent to every thing; moves about slowly; totters as he walks; his eyes are dull; the buccal membrane is pale, and sometimes strewed with violet spots. The expired air is fetid, the breathing slow; the pulse small and irregular, the bristles easily plucked, and sometimes a little blood accompanies them. Strength begins to abandon the patient; he can no longer sustain himself on his hind legs; the posterior part of the trunk becomes paralyzed, the body exhales an unpleasant smell; the skin is thicker, and the cellular tissue is raised in different parts, especially about the kernals of the neck. There is swelling about the roots of the hair, which often proceeds to ulceration; the skin comes off in patches; large tumors are developed; the teeth are ground convulsively together; the tongue is dark colored, hot, thickened, and covered with slime; the body swells; the animal utters feeble cries of pain, and seldom survives many hours.

This is a very obstinate disease, probably from its having usually taken so great a hold of the system before it is suspected, and numerous have been the medicaments recommended for it. Antimony, sulphur, small and repeated doses of Epsom salts, and general bleedings, seem to be the course of treatment most likely to be attended with success; and these must be aided by strict attention to diet