EPIDEMIC CATARRH. ' 177 



it becomes purple, livid, dirty brown, and the discharge is bloody 

 and ietid, the breath and all the excretio'is becoming fetid too 

 The mild character of the disease gives way to malignant typhus ; 

 swellings, and purulent ulcers, spread over dili'erent parts ol' the 

 frame, and the animal is soon destroyed. 



Post-mortem Examination. — Examination after death suffi- 

 ciently displays the real character of the disease, inflammation 

 first of the respiratory passages, and, in fatal or aggravated cases, 

 of the mucous membranes generally. From the pharynx, to the 

 termination of the small intestines, and often including even the 

 larger ones, there will not be a part free from inflammation ; tlie 

 upper part of the trachea will be filled with adliesive spume, and 

 the lining membrane thickened, injected, or ulcerated ; the lining 

 tunic of the bronchial tubes will exhibit unequivocal marks of in- 

 flammation ; the substance of the lungs will be engorged, and 

 often inflamed ; the heart will partake of tlie same affection ; its 

 external coat will be red, or purple, or black, and its internal one 

 will exhibit spots of ecchymosis ; the pericardium will be thick- 

 ened, and the pericardiac and pleuritic bags will contain an un- 

 due ciuantity of serous, or bloody-serous, or purulent fluid. 



The (Esophagus will be inflamed, sometimes ulcerated — ^the 

 stomach always so ; the small intestines will uniformly present 

 patches of inflammation or ulceration. The liver will be in- 

 flamed — the spleen enlarged — no part, indeed, will have escaped ; 

 and if the malady has assumed a typhoid form in its latter stages, 

 the universality and malignancy of the ulceration will be ex- 

 cessive. 



This disease is clearly attributable to atmospheric influence. 

 It is most prevalent in cold, ungenial weather, and is most fre- 

 quent in the spring. It is both ejyldemic and endemic — some- 

 times raging over large districts so that scarcely a stable escapes, 

 and at others, being confined to a neighborhood. It is much 

 more liable to make its appearance in stables where a number of 

 horses are kept, than in smaller ones. 



The disease is beyond all doubt contagious. 



With regard to the treatment of epidemic catarrh, there may 

 be, and is at times, considerable difficulty. It is a disease of the 

 mucous membrane, and thus connected with much debility ; but 

 it is also a disease of a febrile character, and the inflammation is 

 occasionally intense. The veterinary surgeon, therefore, must 

 judge for himself. Is the disease in its earliest stage marked by 

 evident inflammatory action ? Is there much redness of the 

 membrane of the nose — much acceleration of the pulse — much 

 heaving of the flanks ? If so, blood must be abstracted. The 

 orifice should be large, that the blood may flow quickly, and the 

 circulation be sooner aflccted ; and the medical attendant should 

 12 li 



