18"^ THE MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC. 



diarrlicea, which no art could arrest. The fever, acute at first, 

 rapidly passed over, and was succeeded by great prostration of 

 ■ trength. The inflammation then spread to the cellular texture, 

 and there was a peculiar disposition to the formation of phleg- 

 monous tumors : sometimes there were pustular eruptions, but, 

 oftener, deep-seated tumors rapidly proceeding to suppuration. 

 Connected with this was a strong tendency to decompositioii, 

 and unless the animal was relieved by some critical flux or 

 evacuation, malignant typhus was established, and the horse 

 speedily sunk. 



The most satisfactory account of one of these epidemics is 

 given us by Professor Brugnone, of Turin It commenced with 

 loss of appetite, staring coat, a wild and wandering look, and a 



ployed venesection. More than one half of the horses that were bled gene- 

 lally were from the same stable, and were mostly young cart-horses that 

 had been recently purchased, and afterwards worked very hard. They had 

 also been allowed a considerable quantity of beans, a diet to which they 

 had not previously been accustomed. Among these horses I found my 

 severest cases, which were often complicated with pneumonia, bronchitis, and 

 other visceral derangement. In them, too, the blood presented a thick 

 buffy coat, and the pulse was strong and full. 



The usual treatment in the way of medicines consisted in administering 

 the following: — 



(Recipe.) Oil of Croton 5 drops. 



Nitrate of potassa . . . . 4 to 6 drachms. 

 Potassio-tartrate of antimony . 1 drachm. 

 Spirit of nitric ether .... 4 drachms to 1 ounce. 

 Solution of acetate of ammonia 2 to 4 ounces. 

 "Warm water sufficient to make a draught. 



Sometimes four drachms of bi-tartrate of potassa was added to the 

 above ; and, when the head appeared much affected, a drachm of camphor. 

 This draught was generally administered once, but sometimes twice a day, 

 the croton oil being omitted after the first dose : after the first day, in by 

 far the greater number of cases, two drachms of powdered gentian were 

 added ; and after the second or third day, a baU was substituted for the 

 draught, consisting of : — 



(Reoipe.) Nitrate of potassa 3 drachms. 



Potassio-tartrate of antimony . 1 " 



Powdered gentian root ... 2 " 



Powdered pimento berries . . 1 " 

 Treacle sufficient to form a ball. 



Counter-irritation. — In by far the greater number of cases, there was no 

 inflammation of the air-passages ; but whenever it was denoted, I blistered 

 the throat, the course of the windpipe, and the breast, or inserted setons or 

 rowels, as the particular case appeared to demand. 



The above treatment I found successful, not only in conquering th e dis- 

 ease, but in restoring health and strength in a short space of time. 



