PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. — RIIEUMATISJI. 309 



now be adopted as recommended in pneumonia, with the exception of 

 bleeding and other depleting measures, and the earlier resort to tonic 

 agents. 



Symptomatic fever is increased arterial action, proceeding from some 

 local cause. No organ of consequence can be much disordered or inflamed 

 without the neighbouring parts being disturbed, and the whole system 

 gradually participating in the disturbance. Inflammation of the feet or of 

 the lungs never existed long, or to any material extent, without being 

 accompanied by a considerable degree of fever. 



The treatment of symptomatic fever should resemble that of simple fever, 

 except that particular attention must be paid to the state of the part 

 originally diseased. If the inflammation which existed there can be 

 subdued, the general disturbance will usually cease. 



PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 



This is a peculiar disease of the blood, more frequently met with in the 

 horse than in any other animal. Little is understood respecting the cause of 

 it, but it is said to be produced by an altered condition of the blood, depend- 

 ant upon a deranged condition of the secreting organs, such as the kidneys, 

 liver, &c. It assumes two forms — the acute, and chronic. In the former 

 it occurs most in the summer months, and generally makes its appearance 

 suddenly. In the early stage there will be slight bleeding from the 

 nostrils ; swellings in the softer parts of the body, especially about the 

 labia and rectum ; the eyes will also be swollen and blood-shot, with blood 

 trickling from them ; pulse very rapid and wavering ; breathing hurried 

 and difficult, often sonorous. This disease is generally fatal, and runs its 

 course very rapidly. The swellings, especially about the head, will generally 

 increase, in some instances threatening suffocation ; the other symptoms 

 will go on, and the animal not unfrequently falls down and dies in the 

 course of eight or ten hours from the commencement of the attack. The 

 treatment, if seen at the commencement of the disease, should consist of 

 moderate blood-letting ; but if, as is generally the case, the disease has made 

 considerable progress, we must not bleed, but give diffusible stimulants 

 and diuretics, as the spirits of nitric ether or the spirits of turpentine, the 

 latter being the best. The animal should be placed in a well- ventilated 

 box, and the body and extremities well clothed. If the swelling increase 

 so as to threaten suffocation, tracheotomy should be had resort to. The 

 chronic form of this disease depends upon a directly opposite state of the 

 blood, and frequently follows catarrhal affections, influenza, and any de- 

 bihtating causes. There is generally swelling in the same parts, but 

 not to the same extent ; and we have no bleeding from the nostril, the 

 schneiderian membrane being studded Avith petechial spots. The pulse is 

 weak and tremulous, and the bowels torpid. It may exist in this state 

 for two or three weeks, and rarely passes away in less than ten or twelve 

 days. In treating this form of the disease, the animal should be placed 

 in a well-ventilated box, the body and extremities warmly clothed, and 

 allowed a generous diet. Tonics, such as columba, gentian, and ginger, 

 should be given daily, with diffusible stimulants such as the spirit of 

 nitric ether, to restore the functions of the kidneys and skin. If there be 

 much effusion, it will be advisable to give sulphate of iron. This form of 

 the disease, unlike the former, generally yields to treatment. 



RHEUMATISM. 

 This is essentially a disease depending ujjon the accumulation of 

 some poisonous agent (probably lactic acid) in the blood. It is only of 

 late years that it has been admitted into the list of the diseases of the 



