THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 213 



of " one common kind ; " and he also alludes to two of a kind 

 that are uncommon, which he names specific, arising from some 

 special, mysterious, or unknown cause. — See Hippopathology, 

 vol. i. p. 149. 



Treatment of Fever. — Under the iron heel of medical despot- 

 ism, we are bound to " arrest its progress, and to mitigate its 

 violence." But suppose we do. Are our patients any better 

 off? The records of the past will show. A rational system of 

 veterinary medicine contemplates, in the treatment of febrile 

 symptoms, nothing more than a kind of expectancy. If ttie patient 

 be in the cold stage, administer warm diffusible stimulants and 

 diaphoretics, aided by warmth and moisture externally ; friction 

 on the extremities, and, if necessary, stimulating applications to 

 the chest and extremities. In the hot stage, and when the super- 

 ficial heat of the body is great, cooling drinks are indicated ; 

 water, acidulated with cream of tartar, makes a good febrifuge. 

 The patient may be occasionally sponged with weak saleratus 

 water. The alkali has a beneficial effect on the cutaneous vessels, 

 while the water lessens the temperature of the body. No treat- 

 ment, however, can be of any rational use, unless it contemplates 

 a restoration of the healthy equilibrium of the whole system. 

 Let the doctor treat the disease, and a good, attentive groom 

 can manage the fever. 



SIMPLE SCARLET FEVER. — (Scarlatina.) 



Mr. Percivall, in referring to scarlatina, says, the first ac- 

 count of it was published by himself in the Veterinarian for 

 1834. " This since has received such confirmation from other 

 quarters as to leave no doubt in my mind that, rare as the malady 

 acknowledgedly is, and hitherto undescribed as it has remained, it 

 i will one day find a place in our established veterinary nosology." 



It is difficult to say to what extent scarlatina prevails in this 

 country, for there are very few persons qualified to define such a 

 disease ; in fact, the majority of men do not know that such an 

 affection ever manifests itself in horses. From the fact, however, 

 that we have seen two cases within the past four years occurring 

 in this city, we are led to suppose that it may, at certain seasons, 

 prevail to some extent. 



