CHAP. I.] LOW FEVER — DEBILITY, WHAT? 191 



LOW FEVER*, 



Together with typhus, or putrid fever, and rheu- 

 matic fever, are diseases incident to the horse, 

 though attempts were long made to deny the ap- 

 plication of those terms to any of his numerous 

 afflictions, by those who dread, inordinately, the 

 falling into analogies with the human practice ; a 

 fear that may be carried too far, notwithstanding 

 all our care should be employed in separating this 

 from the veterinary practice. 



Cause. — Of low fever, under the idea of debi- 

 lity, a few words fell on the preceding pages : and 

 truly, if " high fever" may be produced in a subject, 

 that is full of blood, or in good condition, by over- 

 exercise, and the other causes thereof set down 

 above (pages 182 — 188: see aiso book i. at page 

 128, &c), these same causes, operating upon a 

 horse out of condition, or which has not sufficient 

 blood in his frame to receive inflammation, neces- 

 sarily occasion that languor which attends debility 

 of the entire system. The reader will turn to 

 book i. at page 124, and read over again what is 

 there said as to some causes of low fever. But 



* Termed also slow fever, but whether given to designate the 

 comparative slowness of the pulse, or the tardiness of the final catas- 

 trophe, is uncertain ; but we may observe, that it has another claim 

 to preference, inasmuch as the blood drawn from animals in the low 

 state, coagulates much more slowly than when they are in good 

 health. Such blood is also buffed ; thus affording one more proof of 

 its being genuine fever. 



