180 



EPIDEMIC CATARRH. 



every kind of green meat that can be obtained should be given, 

 particularly carrots, nicely scraped and sliced. The food should 

 be changed as often as the capricious appetite prompts ; and oc- 

 casionally, if necessary, the patient should be forced with gruel 

 as thick as it will run from the horn, but the gradual return 

 of health should be well assured, before one morsel of com is 

 given.* 



Note by Mr. Spooner. — Though this disease often occurs in the form de- 

 scribed in the text, yet influenza may, and often does occur, as a severe epi- 

 demic both with and without the peculiarities of catarrh. The diseases, 

 therefore, though bordering, and often running into each other, are yet dis- 

 tinct and require separate notice. 



With reference to the treatment of catarrhal fever, we should recommend 

 great caution with regard to bloodletting ; and, if much weakness is mani- 

 fested, it should not be practised at all. E(^ual caution should be observed 

 with regard to purgative medicines ; but, if the bowels are constipated, a 

 pint of linseed oil, or two or three drachms of aloes in solution, may be 

 given, but not repeated. This may be assisted by injections. 



The influenza very extensively prevailed as an epidemic in this country 

 in the years 18.36 and 1840. A vfery full account of this disease as it pre- 

 vailed during these periods, may be found in a small treatise on the subject 

 published by the present writer. The symptoms in 1840 were very similar 

 to those of the epizootic of 1836, sufficiently so to justify us in denominat- 

 ing it the same disease. The first symptom in that of 1840 which awakened 

 attention was the sudden failure of the appetite (either total or partial) ; 

 the horse, perhaps, might have appeared perfectly well in the mornmg, and 

 at noon refused his feed. At this stage we usually found the mouth hot 

 and the pulse quickened, varying, however, from 42 to 80, being sometimes 

 full and strong, but more frequeritly soft and weak. There was generally a 

 somewhat dull appearance of the animal at first, although nothing compared 

 to what afterwards supervened ; the coat was often staring, and when so 

 the attack usually became more severe. This symptom, however, was far 

 from being universal, and the extremities were rarely cold. In the course 

 of six or twelve hours, the symptoms became more aggravated, the pulse 

 increased in frequency, the appetite was more diminished, and probably the 

 legs and eyelids were considerably swollen. In some cases the respiration 

 became quickened, and in others there was cough and sore throat, but, in 

 the majority of patients, there was no bronchial aflfection whatever. 



In a few instances, the disease quickly reached its acme, but, generally, 

 the symptoms increased in severity for two or three days; when, supposing 

 judicious treatment had been employed, they gradually declined, and at 

 length totally oisappeared, the animal slowly regaining his former health 

 and spirits. 



The bowels, generally speaking, were not apparently much deranged, but 

 their mucous coat was particularly susceptible to the action of aperient 

 medicines, and the faeces were frequently enveloped in thin slimy mucus, 

 and often softer than in a state of health. 



In some cases the affection of the eyes was so violent as to occasion tem- 

 po. iry blindness, and in others pneumonia was present, but more frequently 

 severe bronchitis. In many patients the oedematous swelling of the legs 

 was enormous, and continued obstinate when the other symptoms nad abated 

 But commonly, in proportion as the legs and eyes were much affecled, the 

 internal viscera were free from disease, and vice versa. This rule, however 



