212 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



It seems to be a severe form of low fever, in which the 

 lungs are chiefly involved. I had three very severe 

 cases to deal with, in which the pulse continued at 100 

 for no less than four days, with great prostration of 

 strength and confined bowels. I administered two ounces 

 of nitrous ether, with two drachms of camphor, in a pint 

 of warm water or ale every four hours — putting two 

 drachms of emetic tartar and an ounce of peruvian bark 

 in a small feed of steamed bran and oats every evening 

 — allowing as much hay as they would eat. There was 

 no change up to the fifth day, after which the horses 

 began to throw oiF the fever, recovered their appetites 

 in some degree, and no further treatment was necessary. 



The languor lasted about a week afterwards, during 

 which an ounce of bark and aniseed was mixed with 

 the feed every night, — the emetic tartar discontinued, 

 and in four weeks from the disease showing itself the 

 horses were at work again. 



The course of the disease, however, was extremely 

 rapid in many cases, and several healthy horses in fine 

 condition fell victims to its ravages in three or four 

 days ; and in all the cases with which I was acquainted 

 unless resolution occurred within five or six days the 

 case proved fatal. 



Bleeding did not answer in one single case that came 

 to my knowledge ; and in two cases where it was 

 resorted to, dropsy of the chest intervened in a few 

 days. Blistering, also, seemed to set up undue inflam- 

 mation, and to be productive of more harm than good, 

 in accelerating both the pulse and the breathing in an 



