DISEASES CLASS II. i. 3. 6. 



with four grains of calomel ; with mucilaginous fubacid dilu- 

 ents , and warm {team occasionally to alleviate the cough, fin- 

 iihed the cure. 



The catarrhus contagiofus is a frequent difeafe amongfl horf- 

 cs and dogs ; it feems firft to be difleminated amongft thefe ani- 

 mals by miafmata difFufed in the atmofphere, becaufe fo many of 

 them receive it at the fame time j and afterwards to be communi- 

 cable from cue horfe or dog to another by contagion, as above 

 defcribcd. Thefe epidemic or contagious catarrhs more fre- 

 quently occur amongit dogs and horfes than amongil men \ 

 which is probably owing to the greater extenfion and fenfibility 

 of the mucous membrane, which covers the organ of fmell, and 

 is difFufed over their v/ide noftrils, and their large maxillary and 

 frontal cavities. And to this circumftance may be afcribed the 

 greater fatality of it to thefe animals. 



In refpect to horfes, I fufpeft the fever at the beginning to be 

 of the fenfitive, irritated, or inflammatory kind, becaufe there is 

 fo great a difcharge of purulent mucus ; and that therefore they 

 will bear once bleeding early in the difeafe ; and alfo one mild 

 purgative, confiding of about half an ounce of aloe, and as much 

 white hard foap, mixed together. They fhould be turned out 

 to grafs both day and night for the benefit of pure air, unlefs the 

 weather be too cold (and in that cafe they fhould be kept in an 

 open airy ftable, without being tied), that they may hang down 

 their heads to facilitate the difcharge of the mucus from their 

 noftrils. Grafs (hould be offered them, or other frem vegeta- 

 bles, as carrots and potatoes, with mafhes of malt, or of oats, and 

 with plenty of frelh warm or cold water frequently in a day. 

 When fymptonos of debility appear, which may be known by 

 the coldnefs of the ears or other extremities, or when iloughs can 

 be feen on the membrane, which lines the nottrils, a drink 

 con fi (ting of a pint of ale with half an ounce of tincture of opi- 

 um in it, given every fix hours, is likely to be of great utility. 



In dogs I believe the catarrh is generally joined with fymp- 

 toms of debility early in the difeafe. Thefe animals fhould be 

 permitted to go about in the open air, and {hould have conftant 

 accefs to frefh water. The ufe of being as much as may be in 

 the air is evident, becaufe all the air, which they breathe, pafT- 

 es twice over the putrid floughs of the mortified parts of the 

 membrane, which lines the noftrils, and the maxillary and fron- 

 tal cavities ; th.it is, both during infpiration and expiration ; 

 and muft therefore be loaded with contagious particles. Frem 

 new milk, and frefh broth, fhould be given them very frequently, 

 and they {hould be fuffered to go amongft the grafs, which they 

 fometimes eat for the purpofe of an emetic ; raid if poffible fhould 



have 



: 



