348 THE STOCK owner's adviser. 



PURPURA HAEMORRHAGICA. 



This is an eruptive, non-contagious fever, occurring as an idio- 

 pathic disease, but most generally resulting from certain debili- 

 tating diseases. 



Symptoms. — The primary manifestations are uncertain. In 

 some cases swelling of the hind limbs is the first symptom noticed. 

 In other instances the approach of the disease is shown by a few 

 purple spots in the nostrils. Soon the purple spots are seen thick, 

 in connection with the mucous membrane. Some of them are 

 not much larger than a pin-head, but they grow larger and often 

 become confluent, and cause sloughing of the mucous membrane. 

 The pulse varies in character; in some cases quickening, in others 

 infrequent. The temperature rises to 104-106° F. When the 

 fore limbs are affected, the nose and head swell. This sometimes 

 reaches such dimensions that there is danger of suffocation. The 

 swellings disappear at one place and reappear in another. In 

 horses with white heads the purple spots may easily be seen. If 

 the nose is much swollen, the breathing will be difficult and blood 

 will escape from the nose as a result of sloughing of the mem- 

 brane. The urine is generally high, of a dark color. The disease 

 may occur without the external manifestations, but such cases 

 are very rare. 



Treatment. — In the treatment of this disease it is of great 

 importance that the animal be quartered in pure, healthy atmos- 

 phere, the box dr}', clean, and, if possible, in the sunlight. Pur- 

 pura, being a disease in which the blood is ver^^ much altered, 

 with loss of a portion of its product of albumen and fibria, re- 

 quires the administration of potassium chlorate in ounce doses, 

 given once or twice daily. The chlorate of potash may be reduced 

 one-half on the second day. Turpentine every alternate day, in 

 two-ounce doses, may be given. Spirits of nitrous aether, in ounce 

 doses, may be given with benefit if the heart is weak. 



The local treatment consists in the application of zinc and lead 

 or the acid lotion frequently referred to. Tonientations may be 



