THE MALIGN;* NT EPIDEMIC. 183 



staggering from the very commencemeut. The horse would con- 

 tinually he down and get up again, as if tormented by colic ; and 

 he gazed alternately at both flanks. In the moments of com- 

 parative ease, there were universal twitchings of the skin, and 

 spasms of the limbs. The temperature of the ears and feet was 

 variable. If there happened to be about the animal any old 

 wound or scar from setoning or firing, it opened afresh and dis- 

 charged a quantity of thick and black blood. Very shortly 

 afterwards the flanks, which were quiet before, began to heave, 

 the nostrils were dilated, the head extended for breath. The 

 horse had by this time become so weak that, if he lay or fell 

 down, he could rise no more ; or if he was up, he would stand 

 trembling, staggering, and threatening to fall every moment. 

 The mouth was dry, the tongue white, and the breath fetid ; a 

 discharge of yellovy or bloody fetid matter proceeded from the 

 nose, and fetid blood from the anus. The duration of the 

 disease did not usually exceed twelve or twenty-four hours ; or 

 if the animal Lingered on, swellings of the head and throat, and 

 sheath, and scrotum (testicle bag) followed, and he died ex- 

 hausted or in convulsions. 



Black spots of extravasation virere found in the cellular mem- 

 brane, in the tissue of all the membranes, and on the stomach. 

 The mesenteric and lymphatic glands were engorged, black, and 

 gangrenous. The membrane of the nose and the pharynx was 

 highly injected, the lungs were filled with black and frothy 

 blood, or with black and livid spots. The brain and its me- 

 ninges (enveloping membranes) were unaltered. 

 It was found to be highly contagious. 



M. Brugnone found that bleeding only accelerated the death 

 of the patient. He afterwards tried, and ineffectually, acids, 

 cordials, purgatives, vesioatories, and the actual cautery ; and he 

 frankly attributes to the power of nature the recovery of the few 

 who survived. 



If seen at its outset the practitioner would probably bleed ; 

 but if a. few hours only had elapsed, he would find that bleeding 

 wojld only hasten the catastrophe. Stimulants should be ad- 

 ministered mingled vnth opium, and the spirit of nitrous ether 

 in doses of three or four ounces, with an ounce or more of 

 laudanum. The quantity of opium should be regulated by the 

 spasms and the diarrhoea. These medicines should be repeated 

 in a few hours, combined, perhaps, vdth ginger and gentian. If 

 these failed, there is little else to be done. Deep incisions into 

 the tumors, or blisters over them, might be proper measures ; 

 but the principal attention should be directed to the arresting of 

 the contagion. The infected should be immediately removed 

 from the healthy All offensive matter should be carefully 



