198 EPIDEMIC CATARRH. 



and especially among young- horses, and those in high condition, or made up for sale, 

 or that have been kept in liot stables, or exposed to the usual causes of inflammation, 

 this disease principally, and sometimes almost exclusively, prevails. Those that are 

 in moderate work, and that are correspondingly fed, generally escape ; or even when 

 it appears in most of the stables in a narrower or wider district, horses in barracks, 

 regularly worked and moderately fed, although not entirely exempt, are comparatively 

 seldom diseased. 



If it has been observed from the beginning, it will be found that the attack is 

 usually sudden, ushered in by shivering, and that quickly succeeded by acceleration 

 of pulse, heat of mouth, staring coat, tueked-up belly, diminution of appetite, painful 

 but not loud cough, heaving at the flanks, redness of the membrane of the nose, 

 swelled and weeping eye, dejected countenance — these are the symptoms of catarrh, 

 but under a somewhat aggravated form. 



It clearly is not inflanuuation of the lungs ; for there is no coldness of the extremi- 

 ties, no looking at the flanks, no stiff immovable position, no obstinate standing up. 

 It is not simple catarrh ; for as early as the second day there is evident debility. The 

 horse staggers as he Asalks. 



It is inflammation of the respiratory passages generally. It commences in the mem- 

 brane of the nose, but it gradually involves the whole of the respiratory apparatus 

 Before the disease has been established four-and-twenty hours, there is frequently sore- 

 throat. The horse quids his hay, and gulps his water. There is no great enlargement of 

 the glands ; the parotids are a little tumefied, the submaxillary somewhat more so, but 

 not at all equivalent to the degree of soreness. That soreness is excessive, and day after 

 day the horse will obstinately refuse to eat. Discharge from the nose soon follows 

 in considerable quantity : thick, very early purulent, and sometimes fcetid. The 

 breathing is accelerated and laborious at the beginning, but does not always increase 

 with the progress of the disease — nay, sometimes, a deceitful calm succeeds, and the 

 pulse, quickened and lull at first, soon loses its firmness, and although it usually 

 maintains its unnatural cpiickness, yet it occasionally deviates from this, and subsides 

 to little more than its natural standard. The extremities continue to be comfortably 

 warm, or at least the temperature is variable, and there is not in the manner of the 

 animal, or in any one symptom, a decided reference to any particular part or spot, as 

 the chief seat of disease. 



Thus the malady proceeds for an uncertain period : occasionally for several days — 

 in not a few instances through the whole of its course, and the animal dies exhausted 

 by extensive or general irritation : but in other cases the inflammation assumes a 

 local determination, and we have bronchitis or pneumonia, but of no very acute cha- 

 racter, yet difficult to treat, from the general debility with which it is connected. 

 Sometimes there are considerable swellings in various parts, as the chest, the belly, 

 the extremities, and particularly the head. The brain is occasionally affected ; the 

 horse grows stupid ; the conjunctiva is alarmingly red ; the animal becomes gradually 

 unconscious, and delirium follows. A curious thickening, that may be mistaken for 

 severe sprain, is sometimes observed about the tendons. It is seen under the knee 

 or about the fetlock. It is hot and tender, and the lameness is considerable. Thp 

 feet occasionally suffer severely. There is a determination of fever to them far more 

 violent than the original disease, and separation of the laminae and descent of the sole 

 ensue. It may be easily imagined how roaring may be connected with epidemic 

 catarrh ; but it is rarely or never followed by glanders. These changes of situation 

 are not fatal, but the practitioner is rather glad to see them, except indeed when the 

 feet are attacked ; for the disease seems inclined to shift its situation or character, 

 and is more easily subdued. 



The most decid(>d character in this disease is debility. Not the stiff, unwilling 

 motion of the horse with pn(nunonia, and which has been mistaken for debility — 

 every muscle being needed for the purjioses of res])iration, and therefore imperfectly 

 used in locomotion — but actuiil loss of power in the muscular system generally. The 

 horse staggers from the second dviy. He threatens to fill if he is moved. He is 

 sometimes down, permanently down, on the third or fourth day. The emaciation is 

 also occasionally rapid and extreme. 



At length the medical tn^atment which has been emj)loycd succeeds, or nattire 

 begins to rally. The cough somewhat subsides ; the pulse assumes its natura. 

 standard ; the countenance acquires a little more animation ; the horse will eat a 



