I 



29$ DISEASES Class II. y. 3. 6. 



with four grains of calomel; with mucilaginous fubacid dilu- 

 ents ; and warm fleam occasionally to alleviate the cough, fin- 

 ifhed the cure. 



The catarrhus contagiofus is a frequent difeafe amongft horf- 

 es and clogs ; it feems firft to be difleminated amongft thefe ani- 

 mals by miafmata diffufed in the atmofphere, becaufe fo many of 

 them receive it at the fame time ; and afterwards to be communi- 

 cable from one horfe or dog to another by contagion, as above 

 defcrfbed. Thefe epidemic or contagious catarrhs more fre- 

 quently occur amongd dogs and horfes than amongft men j 

 which is probably owing to the greater exteniion and fenfibility 

 of the mucous membrane, which covers the organ qf fmell, and 

 is ditfufed over their wide noilrils, and their large maxillary and 

 frontal cavities. And to this circumftance may be afcribed the 

 greater fatality of it to thefe animals. 



In refpecl: to horfes, I fufpecl: the fever at the beginning to be 

 of the fenfitive, irritated, or inflammatory kind, becaufe there is 

 fo great a difcharge of purulent mucus •, and that therefore they 

 will bear once bleeding early in the difeafe ; and alfo one mild 

 purgative, confiding of about half an ounce of aloe, and as much 

 white hard foap, mixed together. They fhould be turned out 

 to grafs both day and night for the benefit of pure air, unlefs the 

 weather be too cold (and in that cafe they mould be kept in an 

 open airy liable, without being tied), that they may hang down 

 their heads to facilitate the difcharge of the mucus from their 

 noilrils. Grafs fhould be offered them, or other frefh vegeta- 

 bles, as carrots and potatoes, with mafhesof malt, or of oats, and 

 with plenty of freih warm or cold water frequently in a day. 

 When fymptoms of debility appear, which may be known by 

 the coldnefs of the ears or other extremities, or when Houghs can 

 be feen on the membrane, which lines . the noilrils, a drink 

 confifting of a pint of ale with half an ounce of tin<fture of opi- 

 um in it, given every fix hours, is likely to be of great utility. 



In dogs I believe the catarrh is generally joined with fymp- 

 toms of debility early in the difeafe. Thefe animals fhould be 

 permitted to go about in the open air, and mould have conftant 

 accefs to frefh water. The ufe of being as much as may be in 

 the air is evident, becaufe all the air, which they breathe, pann- 

 es twice over the putrid Houghs of the mortified parts of the 

 membrane, which lines the noilrils, and the maxillary and fron- 

 tal cavities ; that is, both during infpiration and expiration ; 

 and mull therefore be loaded with contagious particles. Frefh. 

 new milk, and frefh broth, fhould be given them very frequently, 

 and they fhould be furfered to go amongft the grafs, which they 

 fometimes eat for the purpofe of an emetic •, and if poffible fhould 



have 



