246 FEVER. 



recent sprain, hot and tender. Many a horse has been ruined by this absurd 

 treatment. When the heat and tenderness have disappeared by the use of cold 

 lotions or fomentations, and the leg or sprained part remains enlarged, or bony 

 matter threatens to be deposited, it may be right to excite inflammation of the 

 skin by a blister, in order to rouse the deeper-seated absorbents to action, and 

 enable them to take up this deposit ; but, except to hasten the natural process 

 and effects of inflammation, a blister, or stimulating application, should never 

 be applied to a part already inflamed. 



FEVER. 



Fever is general increased arterial action, either without any local affection, 

 or in consequence of the sympathy of the system with inflammation in some 

 particular part. 



The first is pure fever. Some have denied that that exists in the horse, but 

 they must have been strangely careless observers of the diseases of that animal. 

 The truth of the matter is, that the usual stable management and general treat- 

 ment of the horse are so absurd, and various parts of him are rendered so liable 

 to take on inflammation, that pure fever will exist a very little time without 

 degenerating into inflammation. The lungs are so weakened by the heated and 

 foul air of the ill- ventilated stable, and by sudden changes from almost insuffer- 

 able heat to intense cold, and the feet are so injured by hard usage and injudi- 

 cious shoeing, that, sharing from the beginning in the general vascular excite- 

 ment which characterises fever, they soon become excited far beyond other 

 portions of the frame ; and that which commenced as fever becomes inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs or feet. Pure fever, however, is sometimes seen, and runs its 

 course regularly. 



It frequently begins with a cold or shivering fit, although this is not essen- 

 tial to fever. The horse is dull, unwilling to move, has a staring coat, and cold 

 legs and feet. This is succeeded by warmth of the body ; unequal distribution 

 of warmth to the legs ; one hot, and the other three cold, or one or more unnatu- 

 rally warm, and the others unusually cold, but not the deathlike coldness of in- 

 flammation of the lungs ; the pulse quick, soft, and often indistinct ; the breathing 

 somewhat laborious ; but no cough, or pawing, or looking at the flanks. The 

 animal will scarcely eat, and is very costive. While the state of pure fever lasts, 

 the shivering fit returns at nearly the same hour every day, and is succeeded by 

 the warm one, and that often by a slight degree of perspiration; and these alter- 

 nate during several days until local inflammation appears, or the fever gradually 

 subsides. No horse ever died of pure fever. If he is not destroyed by 

 inflammation of the lungs, or feet, or bowels succeeding to the fever, he 

 gradually recovers. 



What has been said of the treatment of local inflammation will sufficiently 

 indicate that which should be resorted to in fever. Fever is general increased 

 action of the heart and arteries, and therefore evidently appears the necessity 

 for bleeding, regulating the quantity of blood by the degree of fever, and 

 usually keeping the finger on the artery until some evident and considerable 

 impression is made upon the system. The bowels should be gently opened ; 

 but the danger of inflammation of the lungs, and the uniformly injurious conse- 

 quence of purgation in that disease, will prevent the administration of an active 

 purgative. A small quantity of aloes may be given morning and night with 

 the proper fever medicine, until the bowels are slightly relaxed, after which 

 nothing more of an aperient quality should be administered. Digitalis, emetic 

 tartar, and nitre should be given morning and night, in proportions regulated 

 by the circumstances of the case. The horse should be warmly clothed, but be 

 placed in a cool and well-ventilated stable. 



