CATARRHAL FEVER, OR DISTEMPER. 81 



fever, with a cold shivering fit, heat in the mouth, cough, 

 and considerable heaving of the flanks. The eyeballs 

 become red, and the eyes dull and languid ; the membrane 

 of the nose also assumes a red and inflamed appearance, 

 although in a less degree than in inflammation of the 

 lungs, and is accompanied by a slight discharge, which is of 

 a watery consistence at first ; but it becomes thicker, with 

 a number of clotted flakes, which sometimes adhere to the 

 mucous membrane of the nose, and look like white ulcers. 

 It then puts on the appearance of pus, accompanied by 

 an offensive smell. In some instances it assumes a livid cast, 

 although this is by no means a common occurrence. The 

 glands of the throat and under the jaw become swelled. The 

 animal has then much difficulty in masticating and swallow- 

 * ing his food, which he half chews, and then drops ; he also 

 drinks water with much difficulty, especially if it is cold. 

 In his endeavours to drink he will cough frequently, and the 

 saliva will flow from his mouth into the pail. In many 

 instances the animal suffers considerably in tlie frequent 

 and painful attacks with which he is seized, which he 

 manifests by restlessness and stamping his feet. Swelling 

 of the legs accompanies this complaint, and also enlarge- 

 ments in the chest and belly, with a rapid pulse, amounting 

 to from sixty to seventy beats in a minute, varying of course 

 with the intensity of fever with which the disease is always 

 accompanied. Veterinary surgeons do not consider these 

 swellings an unfavourable symptom. Very great weakness 

 generally comes on, so much so that the horse will stagger 

 while moving about in his stall, and will even lean against 

 the sides to support himself. 



Cause. — The remote cause of thi5 disease is not v/ell 

 understood. It may arise from a common cold, or may be 

 induced by a certain cordition of the atmosphere. One 



