176 SCARLET TEYER. 



SCAHLET FEVER. 



Numbers of highly intelligent horsemen regard with amaze- 

 ment a statement to the eiFect that horses are occasionally the 

 victims of an attack of Scarlatina, yet the fact is nevertheless a 

 veritable one. 



The disease occasionally is not only common amongst 

 horses, but frequently proves one of the most dangerous 

 maladies which can eflect this animal. 



The most complete accounts of this disease published by 

 any English veterinary surgeon up to the present time, so far 

 as the disease relates to the horse, are those written from time 

 to time by the author of the present manual. I have treated 

 in all more than sixty cases of Scarlatina, so that I may be 

 considered as being tolerably well acquainted with some, at 

 least, of the principal features of the malady. 



My description of this disease upon the present occasion 

 will be brief. A skilful veterinary surgeon is alone capable of 

 treating it when present in a severe form, so that I shall 

 simply furnish the non-professional reader with a plain outline 

 of its general features, so as to enable him to recognise its 

 presence, and thereby act with better judgment towards both 

 patient and medical attendant. 



Medical writers, in describing this disease, as exhibited in 

 the human being, represent it as being presented in a three- 

 fold form : — 1st, as simple Scarlatina ; 2nd, as Scarlatina 

 Anginosa ; and 3rd, as Scarlatina Maligna ; a division which to 

 a great extent is applicable to the disease as manifested by the 

 horse, especially with reference to the varieties denominated 

 simple and malignant : Scarlatina Anginosa is but a less severe 

 form of the malignant variety. The Anginosa, in fact, passes 

 into the malignant form by imperceptible gradations. 



