THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 59 



it is not always a primary disease we have ample testimony from 

 Mr. Haycock's own pen: see Veterinary Homoeopathy, p. 1G7. 

 " The causes are numerous" &c. " It may arise from laryngitis? 

 &c. If it does arise from laryngitis and other affections, it is 

 only a secondary disease, or, as Mr. Percivall says, "symptomatic 

 of some distinct and acknowledged genus or species of disease." 



Symptoms of Spasm of the Larynx. — " The symptoms of spasm 

 of the larynx are of so evident a nature as to warrant me in say- 

 ing that they declare themselves, and that too in the most decisive 

 manner. Sometimes the disease manifests itself in a moment, as 

 it were, with a most terrible severity ; the animal begins to gasp 

 for breath ; the eyeballs protrude, and present a wild, haggard 

 appearance ; the nostrils are dilated to their utmost extent ; the 

 nose is protruded, and the neck is carried in a line with the back ; 

 the flanks heave with most excessive violence, and every time the 

 poor beast inspires air, a sound is emitted, which will vary in its 

 character and intensity according to the vigor of the spasm. 

 Sometimes it will be loud and shrill, sometimes a kind of scream, 

 at other times like the loud twang from a trumpet — or it may 

 be rasping, snoring, or like that elicited when sawing wood. As 

 the disease proceeds, the general symptoms become more violent 

 — the mucous membrane of the mouth assumes a purple color; 

 the animal becomes partially unconscious ; he rushes wildly from 

 place to place, as though seeking in vain for aid; the body 

 becomes suffused with a streaming perspiration; at last, the 

 spasm is either suddenly relieved, which is very rarely the case 

 or he falls heavily to the ground, struggling for a few moments, 

 and then dies completely asphyxiated. If the disease supervene 

 upon an inflammatory attack of the organ, the symptoms in such 

 cases, for a short period at least, will most probably be of a milder 

 character. A partial spasm of the muscles will manifest itself, 

 which may exhibit just such a degree of violence as to excite 

 alarm, and nothing more, when the whole will gradually subside, 

 and leave the patient in a very tranquil state ; in a short time, 

 however, may be in two or three hours, or more or less according 

 to circumstances, it again commences, and continues for a longer 

 period, or it goes on increasing in violence until either relief is 

 afforded surgically, or the patient dies." 



