DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND SUB-TISSUES. 28t 



nations, and scarlet spots or patches were always present on the 

 visible surfaces of the mouth and nostrils ; yet the patients always 

 drank and ate mashes freely, which they could not have done so 

 readily had their throats been sore and ulcerated. 



The author would intimate, however, that, should the disease 

 ever become malignant in the horse, it may also become, as in the 

 human subject, contagious and infectious. Perhaps the reason 

 why it has not attained a malignant type in this country is, be- 

 cause it is of recent origin ; whereas, among the members of the 

 human family, scarlatina has been known to exist for several 

 hundred years, and may have acquired intensity and malignancy 

 with age. In anticipation of such an event, the author recom- 

 mends that scarlet-fever patients be separated from other inmates 

 of the stable. 



The following case is from the author's note-book, and may 

 serve to instruct the reader on the theory and practice of the 

 malady : A short time ago, a bay gelding, aged about nine years, 

 was admitted into the Chicago Infirmary. On examination, the 

 following symptoms were observed: 



Symptoms. — The hair about the neck and fore and hind limbs 

 was elevated in blotches, with corresponding elevations on the 

 skin beneath ; the membranes within the cavities of the nostrils 

 had scarlet spots, variable in size ; all the limbs were more or less 

 swollen ; the breath was hot and fetid ; the animal was unsteady 

 in his gait, apparently very weak; had great thirst, yet little ap- 

 petite. The elevations on the surface of the body, and the scarlet 

 spots on the nasal membrane, constituted the diagnostic symptoms 

 of scarlet fever. 



Treatment. — During the first three days, I drenched the animal 

 with three ounces of liquor acetate of ammonia, in an equal quan- 

 tity of cold water. The elevations on the surface of the body 

 were sponged once a day with a lotion composed of two ounsea 

 of aqua ammonia and one quart of rain-water. A sloppy bran- 

 mash was occasionally furnished, of which the patient partook 

 freely. This tended to keep the bowels loose, and moderate the 

 febrile symptoms. On the fourth day all the limbs became very 

 much swollen, from dropsical effusions, which feature of the case 

 is very apt to present itself. I now changed the treatment — 

 omitted the lotion bathing, and gave, night and morning, two- 

 ounce doses of compound fluid extract of buchu and juniper ber- 

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