376 DISEASES OF THE URINARY APPARATUS. 



five patients we have found it normal in twenty cases (80 per cent.); 

 in four cases it rose above 39° ; in one case it was 40°, Engel 

 has also observed the absence of fever in four cases. The pulse is 

 generally accelerated ; in the twenty-five cases already quoted four 

 times (16 per cent.) the pulse was found normal ; in five cases (20 

 per cent.) we have counted fifty to sixty pulsations, and in sixteen 

 others (64 per cent.), a still higher figure. The number of pulsa- 

 tions is quite often from seventy to eighty and over ; the pulse is 

 hard and rapid. The visible mucous membranes are red and dull 

 (a sign of blood dissolution). When the animals remain down for 

 a certain time, the blood is soon much altered. 



Regarding the digestive apparatus we notice, as a rule, a dimi- 

 nution or complete suppression of peristaltic movements, but it is 

 rare to observe other alarming symptoms ; the appetite is generally 

 preserved. The stopping of the peristaltic contractions explains 

 the retention of the urine in the bladder ; this is much distended ; 

 it can be emptied by rectal pressure. The respiratory troubles 

 which are observed at times during the course of the disease have 

 been described before. 



The psychological state remains normal, except in cases of 

 nephritic complication. We'have once observed uremic complica- 

 tions which were marked by a depression of the general sensitive- 

 ness and by epileptiform cramps. The cerebral troubles and the 

 symptoms of immobility which have been seen are perhaps ex- 

 plained in this way. All these phenomena are but secondary and 

 accessory manifestations of the trouble. 



Course and duration. To speak generally, hemoglobinemia 

 has an acute or subacute evolution. When ending in a cure this 

 may take place within a few hours (benign or abortive cases) or in 

 a few days, generally on the third or fourth day ; often it is com- 

 plete, and the various functions come back entirely to their former 

 condition, the paralytic symptoms and red coloration of the urine 

 disappear, the animal gets up and recovers entire freedom of move- 

 ment. Recurrent cases are not rare ; the same horse may be 

 affected several times in the same year, even on the same days for 

 several years. The affection would seem to create a predisposition 

 to rather than immunity from the disease. (Paroxysmal hemo- 

 globinemia of man behaves in the same manner, and has been 

 called periodic intermittent hemoglobinemia.) 



When serious hemoglobinemia ends in a cure, a paralytic condi- 



