NATURE AND SYMPTOMS. 29 



or chiefly disturbed, it seems most probable that the ultimate 

 cause must be looked for in the changes which occur in the 

 textural elements of the tissues rather than in disturbed nerve 

 force, which operating on the discharge of the superabundant 

 heat produced, retaining it within the body, elevates the tem- 

 perature and so disturbs nutrition. 



In observing the course and development of simple fever in 

 the horse, there is little difiiculty in marking it in its entirety 

 into the three stages of attack, development, and decline. 



The attack is not, as a rule, insidious, but is delivered at 

 once ; it is ushered in by a distinct rigor, or shivering-fit, or, 

 in less severe cases, by a simple staring of the coat, which may 

 persistently maintain this condition or may exhibit alternate 

 smoothness and elevation ; the temperature of the surface of 

 the body seems at this time lowered, with an unequal distribu- 

 tion of warmth in the extremities. 



Muscular pain is shown by the disinclination to move, and 

 by the alternate resting of different limbs ; enforced movement 

 is evidently painful, while the impression conveyed by simply 

 looking at the animal is that he is suffering from languor and 

 weariness, and very uncomfortable. The pulse at this stage is 

 frequent, probably seventy per minute, and rather small in 

 volume ; it may be hard — that is, feel as if the tonicity of the 

 arterial coats had increased — or it may be the opposite, the 

 respirations merely slightly accelerated, not altered in charac- 

 ter ; internal temperature, as indicated by the thermometer, 

 102° to 106° F., or even higher ; there is httle or no appetite, 

 but thirst is not marked. 



Following this stage, in a few hours, we have the second, the 

 perfect development of the febrile condition. The surface- 

 temperature is increased ; no starmg coat ; rigors gone ; pulse 

 increased in volume from the now established condition of re- 

 action ; appetite the same, with thirst most probably. The 

 bowels are now seen to be confined, and the urinary secretion 

 lessened in amount, while, if observed, it may give evidence of 

 alteration in character by change in colour and consistence : it 

 contains less water, more urea and colouring matter than in 

 health ; this diminution of the amount of water is most marked 

 at the outset of the febrile state. 



Throughout the continuance of the fever the perverted con- 



