518 G^ENEEAL DISEASES. 



first symptom is prominent swellings, which appear suddenly, and, 

 usually, on the inside of the thighs, below the belly, sheath, breast, 

 and about the mouth and nostrils. The swellings are hard, hot 

 and painful to the touch, though not to a very marked degree. 

 Simultaneously with the swellings, or a few days before them, 

 blood-spots (petechiae) of a purple or dark red colour make their 

 appearance on the various mucous membranes; and on those 

 portions of the skin which are devoid of pigment. They usually 

 vary in size from that of a flea-bite to that of a shilling, or may be 

 larger ; and many run together and thus form large blotches. The 

 amount of fever and increase of internal temperature vary much in 

 individual cases, and during the course of the same attack. The 

 pulse is very weak, there is great debility, and the bowels are 

 generally constipated. If, however, this is not the case, the dung 

 is covered, more or less, with mucus and altered blood. The 

 prominences on the legs soon run together, causing swellings of 

 the limbs which terminate abruptly, as if tied by a cord, on the 

 thighs and fore-arms. The lips and nostrils swell, the distension 

 ending in the same sharp manner as it does on the extremities. 

 The eyelids, also, usually swell. A thin, bloody discharge issues 

 from the nostrils, the mucous membrane of which is darker than 

 usual. The swelling of the head and throat often causes great 

 distress in breathing; and cough is frequently present in such 

 cases. There may be more or less severe sore throat, and in- 

 flammation of the lungs, which may become gangrenous. The 

 horse can usually swallow fairly well. The swellings of the sheath, 

 belly, and breast, being due to gravitation of the exuded fluid, 

 generally terminate on the same level as those of the legs. A 

 dark-coloured, irritating fluid oozes out from the swollen skin, 

 tends to scald the parts over which it flows, and dries on them ; 

 thereby causing troublesome cracks, which appear chiefly in front 

 of the hocks, and behind the knees and pasterns. Owing to the 

 character of the blood, and, possibly, also to the condition of the 

 blood-vessels of the kidneys, the urine is dark, its specific gravity 

 is high, and it is in a more or less decomposed state. 



It sometimes happens that portions of the swollen skin lose their 

 vitality, slough, and leave sores which take a long time to heal. 



Remissions in the symptoms are well marked in purpura. The 

 swellings may subside and come on again in the same place or 

 appear in some other part. While the patient is apparently doing 

 well, all the dangerous symptoms may recur suddenly with renewed 

 intensity; or the animal may die without warning. 



The characteristic swellings and the blood-spots are the dis- 

 tinguishing symptoms of this disease. 



The horse begins to become semi-unconscious, as soon as the 



