REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 317 



low fever, we have a dirty yellow appearance of the membranes. 

 When the lungs are attacked, we have soon offensive breath, 

 rapid prostration, and death. If the digestive organs, stomach 

 and intestines, are the seat of the affection, diarrhoea sets in, as 

 a sequel to a short-lived constipation, which speedily carries off 

 the animal. The brain not uncommonly suffers with other 

 organs, and we have stupor. At another time the disease 

 exhibits all the forms of a most intractable rheumatic affection, 

 in which the joints and tendons swell, and leave the animal very 

 lame. 



Unfavourable terminations are indicated by increasing weak- 

 ness and stupor; the pulse becomes thready, irregular, and 

 indistinct ; the legs and ears become cold as clay, and death 

 ensues about the fifteenth or twentieth day, the animal dropping 

 down insensible in most instances. 



P. M. Appearances. — A tendency to rapid disorganisation of 

 all the organs of the body is at once observed, the muscles are 

 soft and flabby, and of a yellowish hue. The respiratory track 

 from the fauces to the lungs is covered with thick frothy mucus, 

 and the membrane beneath is dark coloured, and often of a 

 greenish black. The lungs are heavy, full of dark blood and 

 offensive lymph, and in proportion as the serous membranes 

 have been attacked we find watery effusion within the chest, 

 with the membrane lining the cavity roughened, and covered in 

 places by irregular patches of lymph/ which possess feeble 

 coagulating properties. Blood changes are observed upon the 

 heart and peritoneal surface of the intestines, as evidenced by 

 the dark patches ; and the mucous surface is in some cases 

 ulcerated. 



Treatment. — Nothing kills so readily in this disease as 

 empirical treatment. Bleeding, blistering, and purgation, with 

 other debilitating remedies, produce great mortality ; but with 

 good nursing and housing, warm clothing, nutritious diet, and 

 by pursuing a proper method of medical treatment, not more 

 than one or two per cent, is lost. At least this has been my 

 experience. 



Our first attention should be directed to the carrying out of 

 all the principles ' which secure comfort and warmth ; while 

 plenty of cool pure air is obtained, with a freedom from draughts. 

 The legs should be bandaged, and rugs and hood placed on the 

 body, all of which must be removed regularly, and the body 

 gently rubbed down, to produce a feeling of comfort. Keep the 

 animal quiet, give good beds, maintain regularity of the bowels 

 by linseed gruel and clysters. A little nitrate of potass, or the 

 sulphate of potass, epsom salts, or glauber salts, should be given 

 in the water. If aloes are used as a laxative, a small dose only, 

 say two drams, will be needed, as there is a strange sensitiveness 



