140 FEVERS. 



speaks a hopeless condition. The skin is cold, perhaps 

 bedewed with clammy sweat. The flanks heave painfully, 

 and the head is turned round from time to time. The 

 animal is restless — continually up and down — and occasion- 

 ally pawing with the fore feet. The pulse is 60 or 70 ; and 

 so weak that its beats can hardly be counted. Nothing is 

 discharged from the bowels; neither does the animal stale. 

 In extreme cases, the fundament is unclosed — nothing but a 

 little mucus issuing from the bowel. Death is seldom long 

 supervening on these symptoms. Post-mortem examination 

 discloses little worth recounting, save the lungs, as might be 

 expected, in a state of congestion. We call the case death 

 from constitutional exhaustion. It is a sort of low fever. 

 Bleeding does harm ; and medicines are of little avail. I 

 have lost a horse of my own from this disease. 



Treatment. — Mr. Spooner has shown these cases (which, 

 in the former edition, I thought were instances of fever) to 

 consist of congestion of the lungs. Active measures destro}^ 

 the life. All now depends upon our reviving the sinking 

 powers of nature. The animal is exhausted. Stimulants 

 are suggested. Those of the public-house may be used in 

 cases of necessity, but they are too inflammatory to be pre- 

 ferred. Sulphuric ether and opium — an ounce of each in a 

 pint of cold water — is here the best medicine. This drink 

 must be repeated as occasion may demand. A horse has 

 swallowed half a pint of ether — taking a dose every quarter 

 of an hour — before nature began to rally, but by perse- 

 verance the ultimate result is made pretty certain. At the 

 same time place the horse in a loose box, well bedded down. 

 Let the body be clothed, the legs bandaged, and a pail of 

 good gruel in the manger. Nurse gently, and feed with 

 bran or malt mashes, or green meat ; vetches, lucern, or green 

 clover, are preferable to hay. Avoid strong or bold measures. 

 It is not well to bleed or purge in the presence of fever, 

 debility, or congestion. There will elapse some time before 

 the pulse will declare returning vigour, and when vigour is 

 announced, it will be the energy of health, not the violence of 

 inflammation, that will be present. 



