NATURE OF THE DISEASE. 85 



ally atfected, and disseminated abscesses appear ; in sucli cases 

 the pyrexial symptoms change, with fever of a different type 

 ushering them in. 



2. All these specific eruptive fevers are identified by cm 

 eruption wJiich passes through a regular series of changes, 

 from its appearance to development and decline. — In strangles 

 the diagnostic feature, conjoined with the fever, is the appear- 

 ance of an eruption in the form and character of a more or 

 less extensive pustule or abscess. For although there is a 

 considerable difference in character and appearance between 

 the abscess of strangles and the rash of scarlatina, it is yet as 

 truly an eruption in the former case as the pustules of variola 

 in man or sheep. 



3. These fevers sometimes apypear as epidemics, or epizootics. 

 — Strangles sometimes appears as an epizootic, and, when so 

 appearing, is apparently regulated by those laws which possess 

 a determining and guiding influence over epidemics and 

 epizootics generally. Such determining influence, whatever 

 that may be, seemingly operates in the production of disease 

 independent of ordinary recognised causes, also by giving 

 increased energy and power in the production of particular 

 diseases. This fever may, as other epizootics frequently are, 

 by such an influence be modified and altered in its essential 

 character and form of development. 



4. They attack all, or the greater number of, individuals. — 

 Ordinary inflammatory diseases of any organ, or set of organs, 

 do not affect large numbers of animals. Comparatively few 

 horses suffer from common laryngitis, or even catarrh ; very 

 few horses escape being afl'ected with strangles. 



5. These diseases are only disposed to attack an individual 

 once in a lifetime. — Although this is not absolutely true of 

 strangles, it is as true of it as of any other of the same class of 

 diseases with which we are comparing it. 



6. They are disposed to run a definite course, and are 

 dangerous tuhen checked or interfered ivith in this course. — 

 Strangles, as a true febrile disease, is always disposed to follow 

 a distinct course ; is only successfully treated when the natural 

 development of the fever is not interfered with, but correctly 

 guided to its natural termination. 



