310 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



A watery fluid flowed from the eyes, but there was no discharge from 

 the nostrils. The neck was very stiff, so much so that the animal 

 could neither eat nor drink from off the ground, nor move the head in 

 a lateral direction. The parotid glands were much larger and 

 harder than usual. The appetite, however, was but little impaired. 



From these symptoms I considered it to be a case of ordinary influ- 

 enza, or distemper, which disease was exceedingly prevalent in the neigh- 

 bourhood at the time. Acting upon this impression, I treated it as 

 such until the 24th, v/hen my patient was so much better, that profes- 

 sional attendance was no longer necessary. The head could now be 

 moved with greater freedom in a lateral direction, and the mare was 

 enabled to eat and drink from the ground. The breathing had become 

 natural, both in character and frequency. The pulse 38, and healthy 

 in tone, the appetite good, the animal lively, and capable of taking 

 half-an-hour's exercise daily. 



On the 6th of October I received a message to say that the mare was 

 not so well. On arriving at the place late in the day, I found her 

 apparently suffering but little pain, the intense agony which the owner 

 had observed in the morning having passed off. The other symptoms 

 they described as also existing were an enormously distended abdomen, 

 frequent groaning, rigid limbs, an occasional lying down but quickly 

 rising again, very heavy breathing, and an anxious expression of the 

 eyes. 



The pulse was 44 in number, and rather weak at the jaw ; the 

 sounds of the heart were so feeble that they were scarcely audible on the 

 left side ; the breathing was 66 in the minute, but not laboured ; 

 the motion of the abdominal muscles was indeed so slight, that I was 

 unable to take the number of respirations at the flank ; the neck was 

 still a little stiff ; the nostrils dilated, and much anxiety of the counte- 

 nance present. The mucous membranes were healthy in colour ; the 

 mouth cool and moist ; the surface of the body of a natural tempera- 

 ture ; the bowels regular, and the urine of a light colour. 



On the application of pressure to any part of the spinal region, from 

 about the tenth dorsal vertebra to the sacrum, the whole of the volun- 

 tary muscles behind became as rigid and as hard as in the worst cases of 

 tetanus during the periods of excitement. Very little difference could 

 be detected in the violence of muscular contractions, whether the 

 pressure was employed directly over the spine, or within twelve inches 

 on either side of it. This tetanic rigidity sometimes occurred when 

 pressure was not applied, and also when the animal was made to 

 back, but then in a much less degree, and lasting for a few minutes only. 



On an examination per rectum, I detected a large tumour on the 

 left side of the spine, having a density, as imparted to the feel, equal 

 to the structure of the liver. It appeared to be about eight or nine 

 inches in diameter, three inches thick in its centre portion, and an 

 inch at its circumference. It was closely connected to the posterior 

 part of the kidney, over-lapping the posterior aorta, and extending to 

 the right side of the spine. On pressing the enlargement, evident 

 pain was obtained, but the tetanic spasm did not follow, nor was 

 there the slightest indication of pain when pressure was applied to 

 the inferior portion of the lumbar vertebrae. The pulsation of the 



