PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA 25 



becomes generally enlarged and unsightly, and the breathing considerably 

 interfered with. In many instances attention is first directed to enlarge- 

 ment of one or more of the legs, or to a soft doughy swelling beneath 

 the belly. 



The lining membrane of the eyelids, or the nostrils, or both, becomes 

 spotted over with extravasated blood, and in some cases blood-stained 

 fluid oozes from the skin at numerous points. The urine also may be 

 discoloured by admixture with blood. 



Purpura is always attended with a good deal of prostration, a varying 

 amount of fever, and general constitutional disturbance. In cases where 

 the swelling is considerable, and the disease protracted, sloughing of skin 

 in the region of the lips, or from the heels, is not unlikely to occur. 



Treatment. — Good sanitation and hygiene are matters of the first 

 importance in dealing with this affection. A roomy, well- ventilated loose- 

 box with eflicient drainage should be provided for the patient, and the 

 floor should be strewn daily with carbolic solution, or some other equally 

 eflicient disinfectant. The body is to be well clothed and bandages applied 

 to the legs with the object of keejDing up the surface circulation, while 

 at the same time a free and plentiful supply of air is allowed both night 

 and day. The strength of the animal should be supported by good manger 

 food, suitably prepared by boiling and scalding, as well as by eggs, beef- 

 tea, &c. Stimulants, in the form of whisky or gin, will be found to 

 aid materially in supporting the powers of life and guarding against com- 

 plications. As to drugs, turpentine with tincture of perchloride of iron 

 are generally employed with the object of arresting hemorrhage and re- 

 storing the integrity of the red corpuscles. One ounce of each of these 

 may be given in a j^int of gruel morning and evening. A method of 

 treatment which has been attended with marked success, both in this coun- 

 try and on the Continent, is that of injecting into the trachea or windpipe 

 a weak solution of iodine in iodide of potassium. Four grains of the 

 former to 8 or 10 of the latter, dissolved in an ounce of water, suffices 

 for a dose. 



Should the bowels be constipated, a little linseed -oil may be given 

 in the food twice a day until a better condition is induced, but it should 

 not on any account be carried to the extent of exciting purgation. 



Where sloughing of skin takes place the wounds will require to be 

 freely and repeatedly disinfected with one or another of the agents com- 

 monly used for this purpose. 



When this disease appears in a mild form, as it sometimes does, it is 

 termed by some scarlatina. There is, however, no disease of the horse 

 which in any way resembles scarlatina, either clinically or pathologically. 



