464 GENEEAL DISEASES. 



The great danger to be dreaded in pink-eye is the formation of 

 clots in the blood-vessels. In fact, we may often find a horse v^hich 

 was previously doing well to all appearance, die suddenly on ac- 

 count of the existence of a clot of blood in the heart. I may explain 

 that in the living healthy body, blood always remains fluid ; but 

 when the vitality of the system is lowered, the constituents of a 

 clot (p. 12), which were previously held apart, tend to unite. As 

 debility of the heart, which is a jDrominent feature of this disease, 

 is one of the chief causes that induce coagulation of blood in the 

 vessels, our efforts should be directed to maintain the strength of 

 this organ, as well as to preserve the fluidity of the blood. It is 

 almost needless to say that the more insanitary and damp a stable 

 is, the more liable, during an outbreak, will horses in it be to an 

 attack of influenza, and the less able will they be to combat the 

 evil effect of the disease. 



Bowel complications, when present, usually appear along with 

 the catarrhal symptoms, or may follow them. There is more or 

 less continued abdominal pain. The mucous membrane of the 

 eyelids is, generally, of a bilious red colour ; and the pulse, frequent 

 and wiry. Robertson has observed blood-spots (p. 518) on the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue. Rheumatism fre- 

 quently supervenes, is often localised in the joints, and not un- 

 commonly in the back tendons. It is apt to appear in parts that 

 have been previously weakened by injury. The epizootic of 1882-3, 

 which raged throughout Scotland and the North of England, and 

 which chiefly manifested itself in the intestines, proved fatal in 

 many cases. The abdominal pains were not unfrequently accom- 

 panied by lameness, which was usually confined to one leg. Some- 

 times, a swelling containing a gelatinous-looking exudation ap- 

 peared on the coronet of the affected limb. 



In some cases, the liver or red corpuscles of the blood (p. 451) 

 become implicated, as shown by the mucous membranes of the 

 mouth and eyes assuming a yellow hue. Hence, the disease has 

 been given the misnomer of bilious fever. 



We may, also, have complications arising from bronchitis, 

 pleurisy or pneumonia, either singly or combined. 



TREATMENT. — One of the great secrets of success is to grapple 

 with the disease, at its very first onset, by judicious treatment and 

 careful nursing. During the continuance of an outbreak, every 

 horse should be watched, and, if possible, his internal temperature 

 taken from time to time, so that there may be no chance of his 

 being worked while the disease is hanging over him ; for if this 

 happens, his life may be endangered ; or at least his recovery will 

 be greatly retarded. 



