110 RINDERPEST. 



too closely with certain stages of cholera to sustain a 

 Homoeopathic relation with the distemper we are considering. 

 It seems to have quite as destructive power over the peritoneal 

 as. over the mucous coat of the intestinal canal, and the com- 

 mon symptoms of erosion of the latter, of great prostration 

 and fluidity of the blood, will hardly suffice as Homoeopathic 

 equivalents. Yet there may be cases as in the inoculations 

 of Jessen, where the tendency to lymph extravasations, or 

 others where extreme prostration and tendency to gangrene 

 might justify its use as an intercurrent remedy. 



With greater diffidence we venture the opinion that Bella- 

 donna can only be deemed a specific in cases where cerebral 

 disturbances are manifest at an early stage. True, we have 

 the redness of the throat, &c., but not its swelling ; nor the 

 rash upon the skin, as in the human eruption of scarlatina, 

 though there doubtless exists epidermic desquamation. And 

 unless in addition to its action over the pudendum of the 

 female, and the hjBmorrhoidal veins of the male, it could be 

 shown that Belladonna produced a true rubescence* through- 

 out the alimentary canal, we should expect it to fail in many 

 instances, except where it was needed to assuage the excited 

 condition of the cerebral vessels. We ought not, however, 

 to have neglected to admit, as a common sign, the horrible 

 $mell produced in the cadaver. 



If we are to look at the reddened aspect of the throat and 

 fauces as a principal sign, why not turn to Bromine. Yet no 

 one could confound the violent congestion of these parts, 

 covered with coagulable lymph, with the exposure of these 

 denuded surfaces in the Pest, except where protected by 

 scales of epithelium ; any sooner than a like mistake in the 

 degree of rubescence in the stomach or bowels would also 

 permit us to ignore the gangrenous ulcers, barely hid. And 



 The ;>o«< mor/«m of thirf drng Hhows In men at leapt, the coats of the bowels ioflnmed, and 

 parts not onlj' red, but biack ; (due epote on ihe duodenum here and there ; the Jejunum, ileum, 

 coecum, and processus vermiformis, Uad colored and soft in many places ; lead colored spot of the 

 size of a dime on the ileo-ccecal valve ; the colon filled with hard fojces. The pancreas and liver 

 have the same blue or lead color, the former softened, the latter crumbling andput'eflcd. Tha 

 spleen is also crumbling and decayed. The lungs are dark blue, otherwise healthy; tlie heart 

 livid and softened. The abdomen, penis and genitals are bard a« a itone, emitting a ttoXhy aud 

 fetid water when opened. 



