GENERAL, CONTAGIOUS, AND ENZOOTIC DISEASES. 279 



stable, amongst which some form of epizootic disease is at the time pre- 

 valent. 



Etiology. — The causes of scarlatina in the horse are not well under- 

 stood. It is, however, manifest that those which seem most predisposed 

 to it, have just passed through some other debilitating disease. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms indicative of the simple form of scar- 

 latina seldom occur before the end of the first week of the primary 

 fever which it may accompany or succeed, and frequently they are 

 delayed for a longer period. Unaccountable depression, renewal or in- 

 crease of febrile symptoms — according as the previous fever has inter- 

 mitted or only remitted — not at all indicated on the previous examina- 

 tion of the animal, with a slightly swollen condition of the eyelids, 

 are most probably the features which solicit a more careful examina- 

 tion. The horse, when caused to move, will show stiffness from the 

 swelling which exists over the limb. On passing the hand over these swell- 

 ings we may, in certain situations where the skin is thin and vascular, 

 and where the swelling is of a patchy character, detect a certain 

 amount of moisture distributed in a dew-like fashion over the skin; or 

 if this exuded serosity is becoming dry, the sensation imparted to the 

 fingers is similar to what is felt on passing them over a mildly vesicated 

 surface. Very careful examination may detect the vesicles before 

 they rupture and discharge the serous fluid. More carefully examining 

 the face and head, to which we are led by the swollen eyelids, there 

 will in all likelihood be noticed several blotches there and over the 

 region of the throat, which, although they may not feel dry or rough to 

 the touch, are yet to the eye rough-looking, from the open condition of 

 the hair. In many cases there may be very few or no elevated patches 

 on either body or limbs, nothing save some amount of oedema; the only 

 diagnostic symptoms being those connected with the membrane of 

 the mouth and nose. When the elevated, exuding, or roughened cu- 

 taneous patches are j^resent, the nasal and oral lesions are rarely absent; 

 these consist of numerous bright-red dots or spots scattered over the 

 membrane both of the nose and mouth. These blood-spots are most readily 

 observed on the membrane covering the nasal septum and on the in- 

 ner surface of the lips; they are variable in size and form, as also in 

 intensity or depth of color, not only in different cases, but in the same 

 case on different days, or even at different periods of the same day; their 

 size, number, and intensity of color seem to bear a direct relation 



