SPECIFIC INFECTIVE DISEASES i6i 



the holds were overcrowded, the trip prolonged, and 

 other debiHtating factors in operation. Some of the worst 

 cases of purpura that it was possible to conceive came 

 under the writer's notice, and the animals had to be 

 destroyed in consequence. It is not, however, an un- 

 common disease in some civilian studs of horses, owing, 

 doubtless, to the insanitary state of the stables. Its 

 disappearance in such cases has coincided with im- 

 proved sanitary arrangements. Horses of any age, 

 sex, or breed are liable to purpura, and it is always 

 a trouble which renders the patient useless for work for 

 several weeks and sometimes for months. It is a trouble- 

 some disease to treat and commonly fatal. It is denoted 

 by the development of swelling, more especially about 

 dependent parts of the body, such as along the floor of 

 the belly, the sheath, the breast, around the nostrils, 

 along the course of the neck, and also about the 

 limbs. These swellings are neither hot nor very 

 painful, but there is a strong tendency for sloughing of 

 the skin at the part indicated, and this along with the 

 oozing of watery blood still futher aggravates the affec- 

 tion and tends to the greater exhaustion of an already 

 exhausted body. The patient becomes in a very weak 

 condition and refuses food. The mucous membranes, 

 such as those of the nose and eyes, commonly show blood 

 spots indicative of a degraded condition of the blood. 

 In milder cases recovery is hopeful, but irrespective of 

 this fact it is always advisable to have professional 

 advice, on the ground that whilst there is life there is 

 hope ; moreover, there is always satisfaction in doing 

 one's utmost to save the life of an animal. 



Infectious Stomatitis 



This complaint was extremely common amongst the 

 Army horses in France, and it is very questionable 

 whether it was not much commoner than supposed 



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