212 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



of their patients in curing fevers of this type, when such impor- 

 tant organs as the above are the primary ones involved ? Then, 

 again, in cases of typhoid fever, post mortem examinations re- 

 veal inflammation of the brain and viscera, and more particu- 

 larly of the stomach, intestines, and Peijers glands. Is it not 

 reasonable, then, for us to suppose that fevers — the febrile 

 symptoms — appear subsequently to the above diseases? that 

 they develope them in so slow and insidious a manner as not 

 to be noticed until what men are pleased to denominate fever 

 sets in ; this being, at that stage of the disease, the most marked 

 symptom ; and not having the privilege of inspecting the patient's 

 internal organization, and of course being in the dark as to what 

 is going ou there, we jump at the conclusion that the patient has 

 some sort of a fever, and name it according to its type and in- 

 tensity. It is then treated secundum artem, 



A horse may all at once show signs of febrile phenomena ; but 

 who is so wise as to be able to demonstrate that an error in gen- 

 eral management had not previously deranged the equilibrium of 

 the vital forces ere the first symptom of fever appeared ? So 

 in the case of a cow, the subject of puerperal fever : she may 

 have been for months in a state of plethora, (an abnormal con- 

 dition,) which is generally the case with such animals; the dis- 

 ease perhaps has been in a state of incubation for some time, but 

 at length it arrives at a stage when the vital forces succumb — a 

 general febrile state speedily follows — hence the fever is not the 

 real malady. Our limits will not admit of further discussion 

 under this head, other than to remark, that this as the age of 

 reason, — "godlike reason," — and the world should be dotted 

 over with medical investigators, who are willing to solve the 

 problems of disease and health according to the principles of 

 reason, disregarding the stereotyped conclusions of by-gone days. 



Three forms of fever occurring in the horse are alluded to by 

 the author of Hippopathology. 1st. Common fever; 2d. Idio- 

 pathic ; and, 3d. Symptomatic. The first is but a general dif- 

 fuse inflammation. The second arises without any apparent 

 local injury; and the third from some local cause or irritation. 

 The above distinguished author, however, is evidently aiming at 

 perfection, for he has classed these three under the signification 



