URTICARIA. 745 



whip or thong stripes, varying somewhat according to the 

 locahty where situated. When over the throat and eyes a 

 certain amount of speciaHty attends their existence, as impeded 

 respiration, deglutition, and vision. 



In many instances the horse is languid, with some general 

 disturbance and moderate fever. It is the sudden and startling 

 character of the appearance of the local manifestations, which 

 may occupy only a few hours, which usually alarms the owner. 

 In a few instances I have noticed the eliminatory organs, bowels 

 and kidneys, somewhat disturbed. The period which the 

 swellings remain prominent varies much, in some cases only a 

 few hours, in others their entire removal will require a week. 

 On their disappearance there is extremely little desquamation ; 

 sometimes a slightly open state of the coat may remain for a 

 little. One crop, however, may fade while another starts into 

 existence ; itching and irritability of the parts may exist, but 

 are not diagnostic symptoms. 



When occurring around the throat and eyes a peculiar 

 appearance is given to the animal, with occasionally distressing 

 symptoms, as embarrassment of breathing and stupor ; while, 

 if special attention is not bestowed upon the case, the general 

 oedema of the parts may threaten serious results. 



Diagnosis. — The individuality of the symptoms, their rapidity 

 of appearance and evanescent character, connected with the 

 general state and condition of the patients, prevent us from 

 confounding this with any other disease. The local swell- 

 ings, although when in the region of the throat they may 

 simulate some other affections, as purpura htemorrhagica or 

 scarlatma, may, Avith a little care, be differentiated from either 

 of these. Here there has been no previous debility or weaken- 

 ing disease, as with those other cedematous affections ; the 

 swellings are also marked by great capriciousness wherever 

 appearing, while occasionally they are easily enough connected 

 with some dietetic error or external irritation. 



Treatment. — Although in every instance a good amount of 

 attention must be bestowed upon the local phenomena of infil- 

 tration and itching, a radical cure can only be effected by a 

 recognition and treatment of the disturbance or irritation upon 

 which these local symptoms depend ; this wiU, of course, in 

 every case demand a special study. Should the cutaneous dis- 



