Hczmoglobintzmia. Azotemia, Etc. 463 



The mortality has been high in the severe forms of the disease, 

 the deaths ranging from 20 per cent, upward. 



After a first attack there is a strong predisposition to a second 

 under similar exciting conditions. 



Diagnosis. The peculiar symptoms of this disease and the 

 circumstances attending its onset, are usually sufficient to dis- 

 tinguish it from all others. There may be danger of confounding 

 certain cases with thrombosis of the posterior aorta, or of the 

 iliac arteries or their branches, but the absence, in such cases, of 

 the special history of the attack and of the morbid state of the 

 urine, and the absence of pulsation in the arteries distal to the 

 thrombosis will serve to prevent confusion. Spinal myelitis will 

 be distinguished by the gradual nature of the onset, by the ab- 

 sence of the conditions attending on the attack of hsemoglo- 

 binsemia, and usually by the absence of haemoglobin, urea and 

 •other nitrogenous products in excess in the urine. 



Prevention . The hard- worked or systematically exercised horse, 

 which is at the same time heavily fed must not be left in a state 

 of absolute rest in his stall for twenty- four hours. A fair amount 

 of exercise must be given on every day in the week, and at the 

 same time, the food should be restricted in ratio with the restriction 

 of exercise. Turning for an hour or two daily into a yard may be 

 a sufficient precaution. When from any cause, rest is imperative, 

 the diet must be materially reduced and given in part in a laxa- 

 tive form (bran, roots), or a slight laxative (Glauber salts) or 

 diuretic (saltpeter) may be added. Cleanliness and a free ven- 

 tilation of the stable, are also of value in obviating at once anto- 

 intoxication and the admission of, poison through the lungs. In 

 the same way a free allowance of drinking water is beneficial as 

 favoring a general elimination from the various emunctories, and 

 a dilution of the plethoric blood. 



These precautionary measures are especially important in the 

 case of horses which have passed through a first attack and which 

 are in consequence strongly predisposed to a second. Horses 

 fed liberally on highly nitrogenous food (oats, beans, peas, cot- 

 ton-seed meal), will also require specially careful oversight when 

 at rest for a day or two only, 



Treatment. The first and perhaps the most important con- 

 sideration is absolute rest. If the subject is stopped instantly on 



