On the Horse Sickness. 439 



the case with the very first horse I dissected which had died 

 of the disease. The nature of the disease was then so huried 

 in obscurity — I mean in this District — and such contradic- 

 tory reports prevailed, that I thought it advisable to get the 

 assistance of twc intelligent individuals at the dissection, and 

 Messrs. Kift and Bain were kind enough to accompany me. 

 The horse belonged to the last-mentioned gentleman, and fell 

 under him while riding in the neighbourhood, without the 

 slightest suspicion that the animal was diseased, and died 

 almost immediately ; he had not been stabled. 



I shall give the result of the examination as it agrees with 

 the results of numerous subsequent examinations, with a few 

 exceptions only, which I shall note hereafter, — and as being 

 a document authenticated by the signatures of the gentlemen 

 above-mentioned. 



" The skin being removed, a more than natural determina- 

 tion of blood to the neck and shoulders, was observed, but no 

 other external indications of disease. 



" On opening the chest to examine the state of the Jungs, 

 the superficial veins were seen distended with blood ; both 

 lobes of the lungs were highly inflamed throughout more than 

 half their bulk ; the inflamed parts appeared of a dark color, 

 approaching to purple, and on cutting into their substance it 

 was found to be filled with a yellowish frothy matter, similar 

 to what came from the nose of the animal immediately before 

 death. This froth exuded abundantly from the lungs when 

 pressed — showing very satisfactorily the nature of the disease, 

 and the origin of the discharge from the nose. 



" The trachea was entirely filled with the same frothy mat- 

 ter, which, by stopping respiration, appeared to be the imme- 

 diate cause of death. 



" The inflamed parts of the lungs were easily torn and 

 punctured by the finger, while the more healthy parts were 

 firm and tough. 



" The other viscera were carefully examined, and found 

 healthy in every respect. As there was no symptom of dis- 

 ease in the head before death, it was not opened ; and we felt 

 fully satisfied that the disease in the lungs was, quite sufficient 

 to occasion death. 



(Signed,) " THOS. PERRY, District Surgeon. 



(Signed,) " B. G. Kift. 

 " A. G. Bain. 



" Graaf-Reinet, May, 14, 1824." 



From this period to January, 1829, the disease did not 

 occur in this District ; but then it returned with a fatality 

 equal to that of 1819 ; and 1 did not lose the opportunity of 



