308 FEVEK. 



be riglit to excite inflammation of tlie skin by a blister, in order to ro'ise 

 the deeper-seated absorbents to action, and enable tliem to tnke up this 

 deposit; but, except to hasten the natural process and effects of inflammation, 

 a blister, or stimulating application, should never be applied to a part 

 already inflamed. 



FEVER. 



Fever is general increased arterial action, either without any local 

 affection, or in consequence of the sympathy of the system with inflam- 

 mation in some particular part. 



The first is pure fever. Some have denied that that exists in the horse, 

 but they must have been strangely careless observers of the diseases of 

 that animal. The truth of the matter is, that the usual stable management 

 and general treatment of the horse are so absurd, and various parts of him 

 are rendered so likely to take on inflammation, that pure fever will exist a 

 very little time without degenerating into inflammation. The lungs are 

 so weakened by the heated and foul air of the ill- ventilated stable, and by 

 sudden changes from almost insufferable heat to intense cold, and the feet 

 are so injured by hard usage and injudicious shoeing, that, sharing from 

 the beginning in the general vasculai' excitement which characterises 

 fever, they soon become excited far beyond other portions of the frame ; 

 and that which commenced a fever becomes inflammation of the lungs or 

 feet. Pure fever, however, is sometimes seen, and runs its course regularly. 



It frequently begins with a cold or shivering fit, which, although not 

 essential to fever, will very frequently be found preceding it. The horse 

 is du.ll, unvpilling to move, has a staring coat, and cold legs and feet. 

 This is succeeded by increased warmth of the body ; unequal distribution 

 of warmth to the legs ; one hot, and the other three cold, or one or more 

 unnaturally warm, and the others unusually cold, but not the deathhke 

 coldness of inflammation of the lungs ; the pulse quick, soft, and often 

 indistinct ; the breathing a Httle quickened ; but no cough, or pamng, or 

 looking at the flanks. The animal will scarcely eat, and is very costive. 

 While the state of pure fever lasts, the shivering fit retui-ns at nearly the 

 pame hour every day, and is succeeded by a warm one, and that often by 

 a slight degree of perspiration ; and these alternate during several days 

 until local inflammation appears, or the fever gradually subsides. A 

 horse rarely dies of pure fever. If he is not destroyed by inflammation of 

 the lungs, or feet, or bowels succeeding to the fever, he generally recovers. 

 In the treatment of fever care should be taken to husband the strength of 

 the animal as much as possible. The horse should be placed in a cool well- 

 ventilated stable, and his body and extremities warmly clothed. Bleeding, 

 and the administration of aloes or other active purgatives, should on no 

 account be had resort to ; the former as being hkely to increase the 

 debihty which generally attends this disease, and the latter from the 

 danger of excessive purgation, in consequence of the irritable condition of 

 the mucous membrane of the bowels. Fever medicines in combination 

 with diffusible stimulants should be administered, such as the spirit of 

 nitric ether in combination with the liquor ammonias acetatis, and nitrate 

 of potash. The constipation of the bowels usually present should be 

 relieved by clysters of warm soap and water, or if necessary by a small 

 dose of oil. The animal should be kept on soft food for the first few days, 

 when a more generous diet may be allowed. If the disease run its course 

 as pure fever, we may soon begin the administration of tonic medicine 

 with advantage, such as ginger, gentian, or chincona bark, the latter being 

 especially serviceable. Fever, however, terminates in inflammation of 

 some important organ, particularly the lungs. The same treatment should 



