S72 DISEASES OF THE UBINABY APPABATUS. 



an ^''infectious hemoglobinemia but this view does not rest on 

 any sound basis, it is purely hypothetic (development of ferments, 

 stable miasms, etc.). Besides, the horse may be affected by a cold 

 in the stable. 



We have based our theory upon the following facts : 1. The 

 action of the cold is looked upon as the main cause of the disease 

 by almost all authors. Of course, we do not refer to a cold deter- 

 mining a dissolution of red corpuscles such as that which is pro- 

 duced when the blood is subjected to experimental coagulation. 2. 

 It results from Lassar and Nassaroff^s experiments^ upon animals, 

 that abrupt colds determine parenchymatous degeneration of the 

 muscles and their discoloration. 3, We observe in man a disease 

 à frigore which is well known as paroxysmal or winter hemo- 

 globinuria,'' which, according to Rosenbach, may be produced ex- 

 perimentally by a cold foot-bath, the symptoms of which are quite 

 similar to those of hemoglobinemia in the horse. 4. Schindelka has 

 shown quite recently, by the hemometric method, that the blood of 

 subjects affected by rheumatismal hemoglobinemia is richer in hemo- 

 globin than that of the healthy horse. In order to explain this 

 singular statement, he admits that a coloring principle is added to 

 the blood which is identical with hemoglobin and coming from 

 elsewhere; and this principle can only be the coloring matter of 

 the muscles. 5. Concerning the other theories advanced upon the 

 nature of black strangury, there are none which can stand the test 

 of discussion : a. Nephritis constitutes but a symptom, and one 

 which is often wanting, even at the autopsy, b. Myelitis has never 

 been found at the autopsy, and the observed symptoms do not 

 belong to this affection, c. The theory of infection and decomposi- 

 tion of the blood, outside of a few isolated and obscure cases, has no 

 positive foundation ; the disease appears in animals fed with the 

 very best food ; its symptoms, especially the absence of hyper- 

 thermia, indicate that we have not to do with an infectious morbid 

 state ; the examination of the blood and its inoculation have con- 

 stantly given negative results ; finally, true contagion has never 

 been established, d. The increase of urea and extractive matters of 

 the blood are observed in uremia without determining hemoglobi- 

 nemia, and in several cases we have found a decrease of urea in the 

 urine ; Schindelka has made the same remark upon three horses. 



The opinion admitted formerly that the disease does not affect 



* Lassar and NassarofF; Virchow's Archiv^ Bd. xxic. u. xxc. 



