138 FEVERS. 



manifest disorder of some part of the body ? I think not. 

 On the contrary, veterinarians must confess that, if these con- 

 stitute fever, there can be no doubt of its existence in horses; 

 and that, so far from its being a rare case, it is one of daily 

 occurrence. 



Kinds of Fever. — To what kinds of fever is the horse 

 subject ? I should say, but to one common kind ; though to 

 two of a kind which I have named specific. 



COMMON FEVER. 



Some denominate this affection inflammatory fever : I 

 think the epithet ^' inflammatory '' may be dispensed with ; 

 it being understood fever is but a diffuse inflammation. 

 Common fever may exist either in an idiopathic form, in 

 which it has no local excitant, or it may proceed from local 

 disease or irritation, when it is said to be symptomatic in its 

 origin. A horse picks up a nail in its foot ; it becomes lame, 

 and suffers pain from the injury. Should the pain continue, 

 this will provoke sympathetic fever or heat, and accelerated 

 pulse. On the other hand, when the same symptoms arise 

 without local injury, the fever is called idiopathic. There 

 is no difference between these two forms of fever, unless it 

 be in injuries, the symptomatic is disposed to be more op- 

 pressive than we find the idiopathic form generally displays. 



IDIOPATHIC FEVER. 



Symptoms. — Generally speaking, fever in horses is ushered 

 in by a cold fit : by which I do not mean actual shivering — 

 though that is occasionally observed — but, staring of the 

 coat, coldness of the surface, the extremities, and the mouth. 

 At the same time the animal becomes dejected, hangs down 

 its head, looks dull, and manifests considerable disinclination 

 even to turn in its stall. After the cold fit has been succeeded 

 by warmth, smoothness of coat, heat, dryness of mouth, and 

 acceleration of pulse, are prominent symptoms. . The appe- 

 tite is lost from the beginning. The bowels are commonly 

 in a costive condition : though efforts may be made to dung, 



