602 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



spread, and subsidences in two particular outbreaks — one amongst 

 horses, the other amongst dogs, 



Mr. Eobertson restricts the term " diphtheria " to " that specific 

 sore throat ordinarily regarded as contagious, accompanied with 

 much systemic disturbance, and tending to laryngeal croup." 



In both the outbreaks the fatality was great, all the horses — 

 five in number — dying; in the case of the dogs, there were three 

 or four recoveries from between thirty and forty seizures. 



As seen in the horses the seizure was in every instance sudden ; 

 tlie animals — farm horses in good working condition, of different 

 ages — apparently in the enjoyment of the fullest amount of 

 health and vigour one day, were on the following found unac- 

 countably ill; two, indeed, were only noticed unwell in the 

 evening, having worked all day, and fed with their usual zest, 

 both in the morning and at mid-day. Attention was first 

 directed to the animals from their inability or disinclination to 

 drink when offered water; some pushed their noses into the 

 trough or pail, and seemed attempting to swallow, but at once 

 desisted, or the water returned by the nose. The breathing was 

 at the same time noticed to be rather faster than natural, and 

 the nose slightly pushed forward ; occasional muscular tremors 

 at this time showed themselves, and the animals were rather 

 restless or uneasy. There was little or no cough, and when it 

 did exist, it seemed merely to result from attempts made to 

 swallow. The glands of the throat were slightly swollen from 

 the first, but certainly did not increase much during the period 

 the animals lived. The temperature rose rapidly, and continued 

 high until shortly before death ; while tlie pulse was accelerated 

 about one-half, but was considerably less in volume and force. 

 In one case there were well-marked symptoms of abdominal 

 pain from the outset of the disease, with no abdominal organic 

 lesion observable after death to account for these. In this 

 instance there was also very noisy breathing; this, however, 

 was accounted for at tlie post mortem examination, which showed 

 more extensive involvement of the larynx and trachea than any 

 of the others. None of these animals lived over the fifth day, 

 and two of them died within forty-eight hours. 



I have never witnessed a disease similar to that described by 

 Mr. Eobertson in the horse ; but during the winter 1878-9 I had 

 the opportunity of seeing several dogs, the property of various 



