182 
bolic) acid, ten grams to a pint of water, is preferable. The best disinfectant, in my 
opinion, is boiling water thrown upon the racks, mangers, soil, and walls. 
Inoculation has been tested, but the result has always been negative; so that if 
the malady is contagious, it is by way of infection, and not by the transmission of a 
fixed virus, 
Jature and seat of the distemper.—The blood always changes, loses its plasticity, and 
often filters through the walls of the vessels in order to form, in grave cases, the en- 
gorgement of the ecchymosis, or to mingle with the urine, excrements, and native 
mucus. Here we encounter in greater abundance than in the normal state the ele- 
ments of bile, the liver being almost always diseased. The fatigues and privations of 
war do not suffice to account for the malady; the fresh horses having been attacked 
as the others. The blood being changed, all the organs are more or less affected by 
it; but the pectoral organs are more frequently and more gravely attacked. j 
Preventive means.—Avoid as much as possible the contact of the healthy and diseased 
horses. In the localities where the malady prevails, it is necessary to strengthen the 
thin, debilitated subjects by tonic powders—gentian powder, quinine, or oak-bark, 
about 2 ounces a day; on the contrary, it is necessary to administer to the fat, plethoric 
subjects 2 or 3 ounces of the sulphate of soda, each day, for five or six days. The sta- 
bles should be kept very clean and well-aired, even when the weather is cold. It is 
better to leave the horses in the opeu air or under sheds, than to keep them in badly- 
ventilated stables. If wearied by excess of labor, make no notable change in their 
habits. 
Treatment.—It is necessary to watch the horses in order to apply the treatment at 
the outset. The following means have proved most successful with me: First. Between 
morning and evening an ounce of the essence of turpentine incorporated in a tonic 
powder; Peruvian bark, gentian, and honey in sufficient quantities to make an elec- 
tuary. Second. A large sinapism on the breast and abdomen; sometimes the swelling 
that this provokes is very considerable and spreads rapidly around the poultice; it is 
then necessary to make incisions, which are cauterized. It is not important to bleed 
- any but the plethoric horses, whose pulses are strong and whose arteries are firm; and 
then the bleeding should be very moderate; about six pounds, according to the condi- 
tion of the subject. 
Setons may not take the place of sinapisms, as their action is too tardy, but, when 
the sinapisms do not arrest the progress of the malady, setons, two on each side of the 
breast, may be useful. If they do not suppurate apply fly-blisters to the flanks, when 
the abdominal orgaus are the most severely attacked. In very serious cases, where 
there are nervous symptoms, as in paralysis, profound coma, or a fit of vertigo, it is 
important to apply blisters to each side of the neck, upon the loins and breeches. In 
_ this case it is necessary to place upon the head a linen or spenge always kept moist- 
eved with fresh water. i 
When colic is consequent to abdominal irritation, the essence of turpentine should 
be replaced by acetate of ammonia in the electuaries. When there is a fit of cough- 
ing aud the broncbia is seriously inflamed, the tonic powders and astringents of which 
we have spoken should be replaced by kermes-mineral and a few grams of laudanum. 
These medicaments should be employed until there is a notable improvement. 1 
Whatever may be the form of the malady, injections, two or three per day, should be 
adimivistered, 
During the epizootic of 1871, I tested different medicines, phosphoric oil, for in- 
stance, in the nervous (siderale) form of the disease, but I obtained no good results. 
With the phenique acid and sulphate of iron the success was doubtful. 
Mous. Salle, a military veterinary surgeon, is said to have obtained great success 
with aloes. Ihave never tried them and cannot pronounce upon them. 
I sl. ail not mention all the secondary means, that should be varied according to the 
age, temperament, and condition of the patient, and that every veterinary physician 
who is near the sick horses can best appreciate. 
Regimen.—During the acute period the sick horses should always have before them 
clean water, (a little meal in the water.) into which may be thrown a handful of the 
sulphate of soda; in case of the swelling of the limbs, the sulphate of soda may be 
replaced by salts of niter. It is important to give the diseased horses straw of good 
quality and barley or oat-meal. Carrotsare good. Assoon as the appetite returns the 
nourishment must be more substantial ; good hay and oats, a little at a time, but fre- 
quently, the quantity to be progressively inereased. Walking should not be forbidden 
uuless the horse is absolutely unable to walk. The horses should be well groomed 
and the limbs rubbed vigorously, in order to restore circulation and warmth. 
Complications.—W ven the distemper is serious, it produces a profound change in the 
whole organism; couvalescence is long, and during this period there sometimes ap- 
pears an inflammation of the synovial membrane of the fetlock-joints, (the treatment 
of which is known,) but what is more to be dreaded is the appearance of the gland- ~ 
ers. In view of this, the borses should be carefully inspected. 
Iam convinced that, connected with the American epizootic, whatever may have 
