In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 53 



cases so great that there has been a total omission of 

 pulsation for five or six seconds, and this occurrence will 

 be repeated three or four limes every minute. This 

 peculiarity will exist all through its illness, and often 

 for three or four months after its recovery." I do not 

 consider this of very great importance, though it is an 

 exceedingly interesting coincidence to notice and to con- 

 template. I always view it as a favourable omen. I 

 consider it results from nervous debility, and fully believe 

 that where there is an intermittent pulse there exists 

 a clot of blood in the heart, flow often do we find horses 

 affected with influenza dying rather unexpectedly ? What 

 is the explanation of it ? Post-mortem examinations 

 show that there was neither active nor chronic disease in 

 any vital organs to cause death nor yet rupture. Of the 

 human being it would be said that he died of spasm 

 of the valves of the heart. I have no doubt that in every 

 case life passes away in the tranquil sleep of death 

 through the medium of sinking and syncope. In some 

 few cases it would appear that the whole virulence of the 

 disease concentrates itself in some local superficial part — 

 the legs or between the lower maxillary bone, where deep, 

 sloughing ulcers occur, and even in a vital organ, as- 

 suming a putrescent character, as if death of the parts 

 had taken place. 



These cases generally do badly; there is not a 

 sufficiency of vitality to see them through. Whenever 

 the animal begins to lie down it is generally a favourable 

 sign, as when they are recovering they generally lie 

 down a good deal. It is also noticed that those who 

 swell most about the eyes generally got on the most 

 favourably. 



