512 



in an epizootic form, and our clients will not nnderstand that all of 

 the animals liave not suffered from the same illness. 



There is, however, one of the contagious fevers of the horse which 

 has constantly been confounded with other diseases, and which has 

 not been separated from them in our English text-books. As this 

 disease has received no proper name in English, I shall use for it the 

 name given by Professor Dieckerhoff, of Berlin, who first described 

 it in the Adams Wochenschrift, XXIX, in 1885. 



Etymology.— The term "scalma" is derived from the old German 

 word scalmo, scelmo, sclielm, which indicates roguishness or knavish- 

 ness, as great nervous irritability, especially of the temper, is one of 

 the characteristics, almost diagnostic, symptoms of this disease. The 

 term '' Heimtuchische Kranlchtit,'' signifying malicious, treacherous, 

 or mischievous, is also employed in German for the same trouble. I 

 am not aware of any name in English or French which has been 

 applied to it. 



As I am opposed to employing in veterinary medicine any of the 

 nomenclature of human medicine, except for identical, simple, and 

 inflammatory diseases, or for intercommunicable contagious diseases, 

 I will not offer the term "whooping cough" as a name, but I will sug- 

 gest a certain similarity between the latter disease in man and scalma 

 in the horse. 



Definition. — Scalma is a contagious and infectious febrile disease of 

 the horse, with local lesions of the bronchi, trachea, and larynx, which 

 is evidenced by cough. It is further characterized by great irrita- 

 bility of temper. It occurs as a stable plague ; that is, in enzo5tic 

 form, with, however, great variations in the susceptibility of the ani- 

 mals to contract it. It is rarely fatal except from complications. 



Incuhatio}!.— The period of incubation is from six to seven days, 

 but the disease may develop in two days after exposure or it may 

 delay its appearance for ten days. It spreads through a stable slowly, 

 developing at times in a horse placed in a stall where the previously 

 sick one had stood, or it may pass next to an animal several stalls 

 away. One attack is usually protective. 



Symptoms.— The symptoms are ushered in by fever, in which the 

 acceleration of the pulse and respiration is in no way in accord with 

 the great elevation of temperature. With the appearance of the fever 

 is developed a diffuse bronchitis, which is, however, subacute both in 

 its character and in its course. At times the trouble of the bronchi 

 may extend to the trachea, larynx, pharynx, or even to the nasal foss?e. 

 In two or three days a trifling grayish, albuminous discharge from 

 the nostrils occurs, which continues, variable in quantity, for eight 

 to fourteen days, or may even last for three weeks. The cough is 

 short, rough, and painful, spasmodic in its occurrence and in char- 

 acter. The slight watery or slimy discharge may become more pro- 

 fuse, purulent, or even "rusty," if the bronchitis has extended to the 



