614 DISEASES OF THE HOBSE. 



diminished, if not entirely destroyed. The visible mucous membranes 

 (as the conjunctiva), from which it received the name pinkeye, and 

 the mouth, and the natural openings become of a deep saffron, ocher, 

 or violet-red color. This latter is especially noticeable on the rim 

 of the gums and is a condition not found in any other disease, so that 

 it is an almost diagnostic symptom. In some outbreaks there is much 

 more swelling of the lids and weeping from the eyes than in others. 

 If the animal is bled at this period the blood is found more coagulable 

 than normal, but at a later period it becomes of a dark color and less 

 coagulable. There is great diminution or total loss of appetite, with 

 an excessive thirst, but in many cases cold-blooded horses may retaia 

 a certain amount of appetite, eating slowly at hay, oats, or other 

 feed. There is some irritation of the mucous membrane of the" 

 respiratory traqt, as shown by discharge of mucus from the nose, and 

 by cough. Pregnant mares are liable to abort. 



We have, following the fever, a tumefaction, or edema, of the sub- 

 cutaneous tissues at the fetlocks, of the imder surface of the belly, 

 and of the sheath of the penis, which may be excessive. The infiltra- 

 tion is noninflammatory in character and produces an insensibility 

 of the skin like the excessive stocking which we see in debilitated 

 animals after exposure to cold. In ordinary cases the temperature 

 has reached its maximum of 105° or 106° F. in from 24 to 48 hours 

 from the origin of the fever. It remains stationary for a period of 

 from 3 to 4 days without so much variation between morning and 

 evening temperature as we have in pneumonia or other serious 

 diseases of the lungs. At the termination of the specific course of 

 the disease, which is generally from 6 to 10 days, the fever abates, 

 the swelling of the legs and under surface of belly diminishes, the ap- 

 petite returns, the strength is rapidly regained, the mucous mem- 

 branes lose their yellowish color, which they attain so rapidly at the 

 commencement of the disease, and the animal convalesces promptly 

 to its ordinary good condition and health, and rapidly regains the 

 large amount of weight which it lost in the early part of the disease, 

 a loss which frequently reaches 30, 50, or even 75 pounds each 24 

 hours. For the first three days of the high temperature there is 

 a great tendency to constipation, which should be avoided if possible 

 by the use of the means recommended below, for, if it has been 

 marked, it may be followed by a troublesome diarrhea. 



Terminations. — ^The terminations of simple influenza may be death 

 by extreme fever, with failure of the heart's action; from excessive 

 coma, due generally to a rapid congestion of the brain ; to the poison- 

 ous effects of the debris of the disintegrated blood corpuscles and the 

 toxin of the disease; to an asphyxia, following congestion of the 

 lungs; or the disease terminates by subsidence of the fever, return of 

 the appetite and nutritive functions of the organs, and rapid con- 



