XXXL— TUBERCULOSIS IN THE HORSE. 



During the past week an eight-year-old Norman gelding was 

 brought for examination with the history that six months before it had 

 suffered from "inflammation of the lungs," from which it seemed to 

 recover, but that at the commencement of last month it had again 

 fallen ill without any apparent cause. Its condition gradually became 

 aggravated in spite of treatment. 



The animal was extremely thin, and its general condition suggested 

 a wasting disease. Breathing was not very rapid, but appeared painful. 

 I was only able to make a partial examination, but exploration of the 

 chest having revealed extensive diffuse changes in both pulmonary 

 lobes, I mentioned to you that this discovery, together with the chronic 

 character of the disease and the debilitated condition of the animal, 

 aroused suspicion of tuberculosis. 



The patient was left in hospital. One of you made a note during 

 the evening of the principal symptoms which it presented. I may 

 briefly recapitulate them, 



" The mucous membrane of the mouth is pale and cold to the 

 touch, as are the trunk and limbs. The conjunctiva is whitish and 

 slightly infiltrated ; the pulse from 50 to 55 per minute, small and 

 irregular ; the respiration 20 per minute, accelerated, painful, and 

 interrupted. On auscultating the lung the respiratory murmur is 

 diminished in the lower portion of both lobes. In the middle portion, 

 crepitant, sibilant, and cavernous rales are heard, and in the upper an 

 increased vesicular murmur. On percussion the upper and middle 

 zones are normally resonant, but the lower is partially dull. Palpation 

 of the abdomen and rectal exploration reveal nothing abnormal. The 

 anterior part of the sternal region is oedematous. Urine is passed 

 frequently and in large quantities, saturating the litter and giving off 

 a strong odour. The patient has taken a part of its food." 



I purposed testing this horse with tuberculin, but it died during 

 the night. 



Autopsy. — "In the abdominal cavity the kidneys and supra-renal 



p 



