DISEASES OP THE HORSE 65 



Symptoms; There is a slight swelling of the limbs, 

 more likely to be about the hocks. The swelling may 

 disappear by exercising, but will soon return. The swell- 

 ings present a very abrupt appearance, nearly the same 

 as if a string were tied around the limbs and swell very 

 quickly, and symptomatic of Purpura. Exudations take 

 place in which, if on white limbs, you will see little red 

 spots, from which a liquid is oozing. The swelling is 

 very painful and the entire limb may be swollen. Small 

 vesicles appear on the limbs and also in the mucous mem- 

 branes, and it is well to look at the mucous membranes 

 before giving your opinion, as you will, no doubt, detect 

 these spots, which may extend into the lungs. These 

 spots increase and may run into each other. The mucous 

 membranes of the nose may become a mass of corrupt 

 matter. The upper lip may hang pendulous, which is 

 due to the want of nervous stimulus. If the nostrils are 

 swollen very badly, there is difficulty in breathing and if 

 the animal is not able to take food, the symptoms are con- 

 sidered very bad. The pulse varies much in some cases ; 

 although the swelling is very great, the pulse may not be 

 more than forty or fifty per minute. The temperature is 

 elevated one to three degrees above normal, there may 

 be a coughing and a brownish colored discharge from the 

 nostrils. The mouth and eyes become affected and, to- 

 gether with the discharge from the nose, the horse is a 

 loathsome looking object. In milder cases the appetite 

 is retained, or the animal may take food one day and the 

 next refuse it. The bowels are constipated as a general 

 thing in the first stages of the disease and the urine may 

 be of a dark color, may even contain blood. There may 

 be a peculiar dropsical swelling of these petechial spots 

 or it may show itself in connection with the eyes and 

 there may be blood extravasation without outer symp- 

 toms. This disease may affect the bowels, liver, lungs, 

 etc. The animal usually stands, perhaps from the diffi- 

 culty in moving the limbs. It is necessary to watch the 



