498 GENERAL DISEASES. 



man, it can be transmitted only by contact. The watery fluid 

 contained in the vesicles of horse-pox acts like that taken from 

 the cow, in guarding persons from small-pox. Cattle suffering 

 from cow-pox appear capable of infecting horses with horse-pox ; 

 and vice versa. There seems to be no difference between horse- 

 pox and pustular stomatitis (p. 407), except that the effects of the 

 former are confined to the mouth and neighbouring parts of the 

 head ; those of the latter being more or less general. 



In variola, under which general term, horse-pox, cow-pox, and 

 small-pox of man are classed, there is a definite course of the 

 following stages : (1) fever lasting about two days ; (2) an eruption 

 of pimples, which in from ten to fourteen days successively turn 

 into (3) vesicles (pimples containing clear fluid), (4) pustules 

 (pimples containing pus), and (5) scabs, due to the drying up of 

 the fluid in the pimples. The disease runs its course in about a 

 month from the time that the animal receives the virus, until the 

 scabs fall off. When the legs are much affected, they may continue 

 swollen for a month or two longer. 



The fever preceding the eruption is often so, slight that it does 

 not attract attention. The pustules have the characteristic appear- 

 ance of variola, in that they are depressed in the centre, and 

 have a red circle round each of them. They are, usually, confined 

 to the legs below the hocks and knees, but may also appear on 

 the shoulders, back, mouth, nostrils, and other parts. When the 

 eruption is on the legs, it is generally confluent (running together), 

 and resembles, to some extent, grease, from which it may be dis- 

 tinguished by the character of the vesicles (pimples filled with 

 serum), and pustules (pimples filled with pus), and by the fact 

 that the scabs of the pustules adhere, principally, by means of the 

 hair. The sudden and transitory nature of an attack of horse-pox 

 is very different from the gradual and lasting, one of grease. 

 The sores left after the scabs of horse-pox are generally very 

 superficial ; they heal rapidly, with little or no scar ; and do not 

 affect the lymphatics : conditions which distinguish this disease 

 from glanders and farcy. The eruption may cause swelling of the 

 legs, and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. 



TREATMENT consists in keeping the animal on green and 

 laxative food ; and giving ^ oz. of nitre in the mash or water, 

 every second day or so. If the mouth is sore, it may be washed 

 out from time to time, with a strong solution of borax or alum 

 in water. 



