524 PEOTOZOAL DISEASES. 



the result of the breaking up of the red corpuscles by the malarial 

 parasites. 



Under the heading, " An Un-nanied Disease in South Africa," 

 Mr. J. M. Lund, C.V.S., alludes apparently to South African 

 malarial fever, when describing (" Vet. Record," 14th Sept., 1901) 

 a disease which broke out in Mafeking during the hot weather, 

 and proved fatal in many cases. The chief symptoms were great 

 depression, quick thin pulse, high temperature, and " yellowness 

 of tlie visible mucous membranes, that of the eye being studded 

 with large purple blotches." Mr. Hoggan, C.V.S. (" Vet. Record," 

 12th Oct., 1901), met at Kroonstad several similar cases^ in which 

 tlie purple blotches on the lining membrane of the eyelids was a 

 well-marked symptom. 



PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT.— In treating this disease, use 

 a mild purgative in order to clear the way for the action of the 

 febrifuge, which should be some antiseptic, such as quinine, 

 cinchonine, carbolic acid, or arsenic. Sulphate of quinine, though 

 the most expensive, is imdoubtedly the most useful agent. The 

 antiseptic, whichever one is employed, should be given in large 

 doses at first, and then gradually decreased ; for if the opposite to 

 this be done, we might unintentionally so accustom the germs, 

 whose presence in the blood is the cause of the disease, to the 

 action of the quinine, that the quinine might, to a considerable 

 extent, lose its power of affecting them. Men in India, who begin 

 taking quinine in small doses for intermittent fever, frequently 

 find that, after a time, it loses all power to check the disease. 



" Quinine is destructive only to the mature forms, not to those inter- 

 mediate. It ought, therefore, to be given during the attack, not in the 

 intervals ; as it is at the. time of the attack that the plasmodia exist in the 

 fully-developed condition " (Hamilton). 



TREATMENT. — In treating the Indian variety, administer an 

 enema (p. 643), and give 8 oz. of Epsom salts in a pint of water as 

 a drench. After about twelve hours, give ^ oz. of quinine in a 

 pint of water twice a day for the first couple of days, and then 

 gradually diminish it down to 1 drachm, by the end of the week, 

 when it may be discontinued. Or give 1^ drachms of carbolic 

 acid in ^ pint of linseed oil twice a day for three days. If linseed 

 oil be used, Epsom salts can be dispensed with. Give 1 oz. of 

 sweet spirits of nitre, in a pint of cold water, two or three times 

 a day, as a drench, as well as the quinine or carbolic acid. The 

 sweet spirits of nitre is a good stimulant, and tends to promote 

 the removal of impurities from the blood by acting on the kidneys 

 and skin. It may be given along with the quinine. Allow laxative 



