20 TRANSITION FROM HEALTH TO DISEASE. 



This sketch will, probably, be deemed sufficient to show 

 that congestion is deserving of a place in veterinary pathology. 

 I was once, myself, in the class of unbelievers ; but I con- 

 fess that my opposition has been borne down by the force of 

 practical testimony. Those who wish for a more pathological 

 exposition than the limits of. this work will admit of, may 

 consult, with the greatest advantage, M. AndraVs writings 

 on the subject. 



ANiEMIA. 



The blood may exist in the body to a greater amount than 

 is compatible with its health ; in like manner the same fluid 

 may exist in a less quantity than is salutary. As plethora 

 implies redundance, so the term ancemia signifies deficiency 

 of blood : the pathology of these two conditions probably is 

 — that in the one the blood abounds in nutritive properties ; 

 in the other, it is deficient in them. In a general way, 

 most domesticated animals consume more food than is con- 

 verted into nutriment; a circumstance that renders a case 

 of anaemia proceeding from lack of aliment of somewhat 

 rare occurrence : such a condition, however, does occasionally 

 proceed from torpid or defective action in the assimilating 

 powers. I have witnessed a case of contracted cardia of the 

 stomach, in which the aperture was so diminished, that the 

 animal was reduced to the utmost extremity from inanition, 

 and would have died, had not an act of humanity put a pre- 

 mature end to its suff'erings. Enlarged and scirrhous 

 mesenteric glands arrest the absorption of chyle, and thus 

 produce similar eff'ects on the system. Diarrhoea will be 

 attended with anaemia, by carrying oft' the alimentary matter 

 before time has been allowed for the completion of digestion. 



Anemia may give rise to Disease, either from the in- 

 sufficient quantity .of the blood, or from the poorness of its 

 quality. It is too prevalent a practice to keep horses ^'^ short 

 of water," under the impression that much fluid is injurious ; 

 a notion that probably originated in giving water very spa- 

 ringly at the time the animal is required for work : hunters 



