Blood Diseases. 183 



by the results of treatment, which show that while a 

 stimulative plan is most successful, sedatives unmercifully 

 kill in a short space of time. Several forms are also 

 observed, determined by the seat of the affection ; thus, 

 at one time a catarrhal form is observed, then a bilious, 

 or a gastric, each of which may exhibit more or less of 

 rheumatic complication, creating great difficulties in the 

 way of successful treatment. The causes are unknown, 

 but there is strong reason for associating the prevalence 

 with atmospheric disturbance in which volcanic or elec- 

 trical action may play a conspicuous part. 



The simple or catarrhal form exhibits all the characters 

 of a severe cold, with a hacking cough, loss of appetite, 

 surprising weakness, high temperature, swelling of the 

 eyelids, with tardy discharges from the mucous mem- 

 branes. All the functions of nature are perverted to ari 

 extent, more or less, the liver, bowels, and kidneys being 

 conspicuous in this disorder for abnormal action. 

 Diarrhoea is easily provoked, although constipation 

 seems intense, and the kidneys secrete a highly coloured 

 viscid urine, which shows how the system is rapidly 

 breaking down. Congestion of the lungs with pleurisy 

 are common, owing to the condition of the blood and 

 liability to stasis in large and important organs. From 

 this arises the tendency to hydrothorax, by which the 

 creature dies from a process of internal drowning. At 

 other times rheumatism so complicates matters as to seri- 

 ously delay the disease, at length leaving an animal lame 

 and useless, to whom death would have been most mer- 

 ciful ; and in other instances the end is protracted by 

 diarrhoea and a painful dysentery. 



Treatment is essentially of a stimulative nature. When 

 the complaint is ushered in by diarrhoea, give a draught 

 composed of half the usual doses of linseed oil and tinc- 

 ture of opium. Thus a large horse will take £ a pint of 

 oil and h oz. of the latter. Use electuaries when sore 

 throat is present, and rub a mild stimulating embrocation 

 upon the outside. Inhalations of warm vapour medi- 

 cated with " Sanitas " oil are invaluable when the mem- 

 branes of the air passages are dry, congested, and dark 



