MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC. 203 



tt at they do not appear to have been of a dangerous character, or to b.ave required 

 anything out of the ordinary line of treatment, I beg to observe, that at the periods 

 at which 1 submitted them to the action of mercury, they so much resembled three 

 others that had preceded them, and the disease had proved fatal, that, under a con- 

 tinuance of treatment of any ordinary kind, I certainly should have entertained fears 

 for their safety, 



" It must be remembered that they were cases in which blood-letting 1 , except at the 

 commencement, was altogether forbidden ; and that, at the critical period when mer- 

 cury was introduced, they had taken an unfavourable turn, and that nothing in the 

 shape of remedy appeared available, save internal medicine and counter-irritation, and 

 that the latter had not, and did not, show results betokening the welfare of the patients. 

 Under these circumstances, the mercury was exhibited. That it entered the system, 

 and must have had more or less influence on the disease, appears evident from its 

 effect on the gums. That it proved the means of cure, I cannot, from so few cases, 

 take upon myself to assert ; but I would recommend it in similar cases to the notice 

 of practitioners." 



THE MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC. 



Continental veterinarians describe a malignant variety or termination of this disease ; 

 and the imperfect history of veterinary medicine in Britain is not without its records 

 of it. So lately as the year 1815, an epidemic of a malignant character reigned 

 among horses. Three out of five who were attacked died. It reappeared in 1823, 

 but was not so fatal. It was said that the horses that died, were ultimately farcied: 

 the truth was, that swellings and ulcerations, with foetid discharge, appeared in 

 various parts, or almost all over them the natural swellings of the complaint which 

 has just been considered, but aggravated and malignant. Our recollection of the 

 classic lore of our early years will furnish us with instances of the same pest in dis- 

 tant times and countries. We have not forgotten the vivid description of Apollo 

 darting his fiery arrows among the Greeks, and involving in one common destruction, 

 the human being, the mule, the horse, the ox, and the dog. Lucretius, when describ* 

 ing the plague at Athens, speaks of a malignant epidemic affecting almost every 

 animal 



Nor longer birds at noon, nor beasts at night 

 Their native woods deserted ; with the pest 

 Remote they languished, and full frequent died : 

 But chief, the dog his generous strength resigned. 



In 1714, a malignant epidemic was imported from the Continent, and in the course 

 of a few months destroyed 70,000 horses and cattle. It continued to visit other coun- 

 tries, with but short intervals, for fifty years afterwards. Out of evil, however, came 

 good. The Continental agriculturists were alarmed by this destruction of theii pro- 

 perty. The different governments participated in the terror, and veterinary schools 

 were established, in which the anatomy and diseases of these animals might be 

 studied, and the cause and treatment of these periodical pests discovered. From the 

 time that this branch of medical science began to receive the attention it deserved, 

 these epidemics, if they have not quite ceased, have changed their character, and 

 have become comparatively mild and manageable. As, however, they yet occur, and 

 are far too fatal, we must endeavour to collect the symptoms, and point out the treat- 

 ment of them. 



The malignant epidemic was almost uniformly ushered in by inflammation of the 

 mucous membrane of the respiratory passages, but soon involving other portions, 

 and then ensued a diarrhoea, which no art could arrest. The fever, acute at first, 

 lapidly passed over, and was succeeded by great prostration of strength. The 'nflam- 

 ruation then spread to the cellular texture, and there was a peculiar disposition to the 

 formation of phlegmonous tumours : sometimes there were pustular eruptions, but, 

 oftener, deep-seated tumours rapidly proceeding to suppuration. Connected with 

 this was a strong tendency to decomposition, and unless the animal was relieved by 

 some cr'tical flux or evacuation, malignant typhus was established, and the horse 

 speedily sunk. 



The most satisfactory account of one of these epidemics is given us by Professor 

 Brugruone of Turin. It commenced with loss of appetite, staring !?iat, si wild <md 



