144 FEVERS. 



piecemeal, and in situations where no connexion can be 

 traced. The disease will in general be found to select the 

 young — the three, four, and five year-old horses. Some 

 veterinarians believe that the disease is 



Contagious : I never thought so myself — I never had 

 sufficient reason for so believing. I have never taken pains 

 " to prevent its spreading/' I never conjectured its "spread" 

 in the way contagion would have become developed. When 

 the disorder prevails, or " spreads," as the phrase is, it does 

 not attack horses standing together, unless they happen to 

 be both of the age for receiving it, but runs from stable 

 to stable, from one side of a square building to another, 

 selecting, wherever it makes its appearance, in nearly all 

 cases, the young horses. 



Symptoms. — Considering the disorder as produced by 

 atmospheric influence ; and considering it attacks horses at 

 seasons of the year when they are naturally weak, in conse- 

 quence of this being the time they are shedding their coats; 

 and taking into account the situation and condition the 

 animals may happen to be in at the time of attack ; we 

 shall be prepared to meet with differences in the mode of 

 the disease showing itself, and still greater in the form it 

 assumes. In its simplest form, it bears some resemblance 

 to common fever ; though there are still strong characteristic 

 distinctions between the diseases. To a practitioner the 

 look — the eye — at once betrays the malady; either it 

 exhibits that dolorous aspect which extreme depression might 

 give ; or else, being itself affected, its upper lid, instead of 

 being simply dependent, is nearly closed, while the lower 

 one is wet with tears. The head rather hangs from than is 

 supported by the neck. The coat looks dead — it has lost 

 all gloss. The extremities — the ears and legs — are cold ; 

 but the mouth is hot, dry, and feverish. The pulse is ac- 

 celerated, but very weak. The respiration is undisturbed. 

 The dung is voided in small quantities. The urine is scanty ; 

 and passed with difficulty. As for appetite, the animal 

 cannot be induced to look at food ; but despondingly averts 

 its head, as though all hope of recovery had been relinquished. 



