488 History of Animal Plagues. 



on the 5th^ three horses were seized with the same symptoms, 

 and these died — two in two days and one in three days. So 

 that out of thirty-six horses, twenty-five were diseased and 

 eighteen perished, while eleven remained unaffected/ The 

 symptoms were, ' a shght heating of the flanks, a loss of appetite, 

 a want of vivacity in the eyes and the whole physiognomy, an un- 

 common slowness and unwillingness to move; there was but little 

 sensibility when struck, and no heed taken of the voice; the head 

 was carried low and drooping; the skin over the whole body 

 rough and dry; the ears and the extremities, as well as the en- 

 tire surface of the trunk, alternately hot and cold ; there was a 

 great inclination to lie down ; a dry, but not excessive, heat in 

 the mouth and about the tongue, which disappeared at times, 

 and gave place to another temperature with a pricking sensation 

 [formicolamento) ; a great quantity of viscous saliva flowed from 

 the fauces ; the pulse was small and slow, and easily compressed 

 in the majority of cases in the early stages of the malady. 

 In a few hours all these indications became increased; the beat- 

 ing of the flanks was very strong; and if the back of the hand 

 was placed against the ribs, there was immediately perceived 

 a tumultuous and extraordinary action of the heart. In all those 

 which died suddenly there was no fever, no beating of the 

 flanks, and no palpitations. There flowed from the nostrils a 

 matter which was at first white, then afterwards of a viscous 

 consistence and yellowish tint, which adhered to the nostrils, and 

 formed clots or scabs around them and the lower part of the 

 face; the whole extent of the pituitary membrane as far as 

 could be seen, instead of being of a uniform rose-colour, was 

 either very pale or livid ; the horse moved but little, and that 

 very unsteadily, and continued lying down sometimes on one 

 side and sometimes the other, getting up and down every 

 moment; suddenly breaking out into a tremor, either in one 

 fore-arm, or both, or over the whole body. From beginning to 

 end there was obstinate constipation ; the small quantity of 

 faeces that was passed by the intestines was hard, shining, and 

 fetid ; when it happened that there was an inextinguishable thirst, 

 the feeces were as in health, solid, of their proper form, neither 

 too hard nor too soft, always of a yellow colour and shining. 



