FISTULOUS WITHERS. 85 



thereby induced ; and he will, during the remainder of 

 his life, be liable to colds and other affections of the 

 hmgs. 



The symptoms of this malady are something similar to 

 those which accompany inflammation of the lungs ; and as 

 the medical treatment differs considerably, it becomes a 

 matter of considerable importance to be able to distinguish 

 the one from the other. Inflammation of the lungs is 

 ahvays attended by a febrile and oppressed pulse, and is 

 indicated by an early discharge from the nose, but is unac- 

 companied by the intense redness of the mucous membrane 

 of the nostrils — which is manifested in catarrhal fever ; and 

 is invariably attended with a painful, frequent, and hard 

 cough, enlargement of the glands, and inflammation of the 

 throat, variable warmth and coldness in the limbs, and 

 rapid loss of strength. 



In the year 1832 a distemper prevailed which swept off 

 many horses. It was considered a contagious epidemic, and 

 was ascribed to some latent atmospheric phenomena, which 

 was never satisfactorily accounted for ; nor were the modes 

 of treatment of the time attended with beneficial results. 

 By post-mortem examinations it was found that the liver 

 was invariably afiected, and an imperfect secretion of bile 

 was the consequence. This caused increased action of the 

 pulmonary arteries, followed by rupture and congestion of 

 blood at the heart, producing immediate death. 



FISTULOUS WITHERS. 



SvMrTOMS. — This consists of one or more hot and tender 

 tumours formed upon the withers. If neglected it ends in 

 a large and deep ulcer, and will sometimes extend beneatli 

 the shoulder-blade — or scapula — and consequently becomes 

 extremely difficult of cui'e. 



