CONTAGION. 231 



The Colonei-'s Charger, a dark chestnut horse, whom I had known for 

 the six years I had been in the regiment as a hardy horse and one that had 

 never ailed any thing — was brought to me with a complaint that he had 

 " caught a cold standing at out-quarters." He had not during the last night 

 fed with his usually good appetite, and this morning he evidently looked dull, 

 and his coat was roughened and lustreless ; also his hind legs were filled, 

 shewing a disposition to be " humoury." His pulse was quicker than natural, 

 and his mouth unusually warm and dry, and there was some little watery issue 

 out of the corners of his eyes and from his nose. I ordered him into a box, 

 to take aperient medicine, and live upon mash diet. This was on the 23d 

 of March, On the 25th, the horse appeared better. On the 28th, however, 

 the man still complaining of his being " humoury about his hind legs," more 

 aperient medicine was given. 



Slst — Although he has been purging, and the physic is at present but 

 " setting," a corded swelling as large as my wrist has appeared on the inner 

 side of the off thigh, extending from the groin to the hock, which feels hot 

 and gives pain on pressure. Let him be largely bled immediately, and have 

 a dose of calomel and aloes, with common turpentine ; and be exercised twice 

 a day. 



April Ist. — The swelling in the thigh has disappeared, owing to the large 

 and timely blood-letting. 



Some return of it took place on the 7th, and in consequence he was bled 

 again. 



14:th, — Some swelling has again appeared. Bleed again, and continue the 

 calomel and aloes and turpentine, in divided doses. 



On the 4th of May, a chain of superficial ulceration broke out between the 

 hock and fetlock, discharging foul ichorous matter. Is now taking iodine : the 

 general health being tolerably good, and the appetite quite restored. 



Up to the end of June, the iodine treatment was pursued, but with no 

 permanent benefit, though at times it was thought to do good. The limb 

 became ultimately very large, and the sheath partook of the tumefaction ; 

 and in this state of incurability the horse w^as, in accordance with the regula- 

 tions of the service, destroyed. 



The Colonel's little Chestnut Hackney — rather a tender 

 constitutioned animal — was brought to me the next day after his 

 charger was taken unwell, also on account of a " cold." The symp- 

 toms, with the exception of the swellings in the hind limbs, were 

 about the same as in the charger : I had him bled, and gave him 

 an aperient, and ordered low diet. 



April 1st. — The off" hind fetlock has taken to swell. 



3d. — The tumour has broke on the inner side of the joint, as though a 

 small abscess had formed there ; but there are no cords, nor any swelling 

 whatever to be detected in the thigh. 



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