27 



MALIGNANT OR PUTRID SORE THROAT. 



{Larijngitis Maligna.) 



My attention was first drawn to this sad and fatal disease, 

 through the 'Veterinarian,' by Mr. Thomas Proctor, V.S. 

 Solihul, who kindly, in October 1850, sent me an extremely 

 interesting account of it, from which I am about to take 

 the remarks here offered to the notice of my reader : — 



Cattle as well as Horses are subject to it, and in Mr. 

 Proctor's practice, although '' scores of cases" have presented 

 themselves, they have all of them proved fatal. 



The symptoms differ from those of ordinary or catarrhal 

 sore throat in the disease being sudden in its attack and 

 rapidly running its course ; the patient rarely surviving the 

 third day ; the entire system from the first sympathising, as 

 is shown by the rapidity (100 per minute) of the pulse ; and 

 the general strength of the body failing. At first the sali- 

 vary glands take to swell and are extremely painful to the 

 touch. Then the throat generally commences swelling, and 

 becomes sore, so much so, as the tumefaction increases, as 

 to make it so painful to swallow that food and liquids too 

 are refused by the animal. At length the throat becomes pro- 

 digiously swollen, and difficulty of respiration, with sonorous 

 and distressing breathing, ensues, accompanied with fetor, 

 which, as the complaint advances, turns in some cases so ob- 

 noxious that before death it is stinking in the extreme. The 

 membrane of the nose is of a dark crimson colour. The 

 countenance turns doleful and sharp, and even haggard, and 

 with increase of all his anxiety and distress, the poor animal 

 dies a victim to a disease which we appear to have no power 

 even to arrest, much less to cure. 



The APPEARANCES AFTER DEATH are — laryux and pharynx 

 in a state of inflammation, ulcerated perhaps as well, and 

 covered with putrid discharges ; root of the tongue ulcerated ; 

 considerable enlargement of the salivary glands, and of the 

 surrounding tissues also. Sometimes inflammation and effu- 

 sion arc likewise discoverable at the base of the brain. 



The DISEASE is contagious : at least the following facts, 



