280 THE MALIGNANT EriDEMIC. 



attention it deserved, these epidemics, if they have not quite ceased, have 

 changed their character, and have become comparatively mild and manage- 

 able. As, however, they yet occur, and are far too fatal, we must endeavour 

 to collect the symptoms, and point out the treatment of them. 



The malignant epidemic was almost uniformly ushered in by inflamma- 

 tion of the mucous membrane of the respiratory passages, but soon involving 

 other portions, and then ensued a diarrhoea, which no art could arrest. 

 The fever, acute at first, rapidly passed over, and was succeeded by great 

 prostration of strength. The inflammation then spread to the cellular 

 texture, and there was a peculiar disposition to the formation of phleg- 

 monous tumours : sometimes there were pustular eruptions, but, oftener, 

 deep-seated tumours rapidly proceeding to suppuration. Connected with 

 this was a strong tendency to decomposition, and unless the animal was 

 relieved by some critical flux or evacuation, malignant typhus was estab- 

 lished, and the horse speedily sunk. 



The most satisfactory account of one of these epidemics is given us by 

 Professor Brugnone, of Turin. It commenced with loss of appetite, 

 staring coat, a wild and wandering look, and a staggering from the very 

 commencement. The horse would continually lie down and get up again, 

 as if tormented by colic, and he gazed alternately at both flanks. In the 

 moments of comparative ease, there were universal twitchings of the skin, 

 and spasms of the limbs. The temperature of the ears and feet was 

 variable. If there happened to be about the animal any old wound or 

 scar from setoning or firing, it opened afresh and discharged a quantity of 

 thick and black blood. Very shortly afterwards the flanks, which were 

 quiet before, began to heave, the nostrils were dilated, the head extended 

 for breath. The horse had by this time become so weak that, if he lay or 

 fell down, he could rise no more ; or if he was up, he would stand trem- 

 bling, staggering, and threatening to fall every moment. The mouth was 

 dry, the tongue white, and the breath foetid ; a discharge of yellow or 

 bloody foetid matter proceeded from the nose, and foetid blood from the 

 anus. The duration of the disease did not usually exceed twelve or 

 twenty-four hours ; or if the animal lingered on, swellings of the head 

 and throat, and sheath, and scrotum, followed, and he died exhausted or 

 in convulsions. 



Black spots of extravasation were found in the cellular membrane, in 

 the tissue of all the membranes, and on the stomach. The mesenteric and 

 lymphatic glands were engorged, black, and gangrenous. The membrane 

 of the nose and the pharynx was highly injected, the lungs were filled 

 with black and frothy blood, or with black and livid spots. The brain and 

 its meninges were unaltered. 



It commenced in March 1783. The barracks then contained one 

 hundred and sixteen horses ; all but thii'teen were attacked, and seventy- 

 eight of them died. The horses of both officers and men were subject to 

 the attack of it ; and three horses from the town died, two of which had 

 drawn the carts that conveyed the carcases away, and the other stood 

 under a window, from which the dung of an infected stable had been 

 thrown out. The disease would probably have spread, but the most sum- 

 mary measures for arresting its progress were adopted ; every horse in 

 the town was killed that had the slightest communication with those in 

 the barracks. One horse was inoculated with the pus discharged from 

 the ulcer of an infected horse, and he died. A poi-tion of his thymus 

 gland was introduced under the skin of another horse, and he also died. 



Cause. — The disease was supposed to be connected with the food of the 

 horses. All the oats had been consumed, and the lolium temidentum, or 

 awned darnel, had been given instead. It is said that the darnel is occa- 



