MALIGNANT FEVER. 
324 
*** It is obvious, from the nature of its contents, that the 
writer could hardly append his name to this letter ; but he has 
sent it to us, and authorised us to make it known “ to any per- 
son wishing to have 'private correspondence on the subject.” — 
Ed. Vet. 
MALIGNANT FEVER. 
By Mr. W. Arkcoll, Leek. 
Dear Sir, — I f you think the following worth a place in your 
Journal, it is at your service. 
The subject was a three- year-old cart filly, that had done a 
little work, belonging to Mr. Bainbridge, residing about five 
miles from this place. He turned her out on Good Friday for 
a few hours, during which time a very heavy storm came on. 
On Saturday morning, on visiting the stable, he found a slight 
swelling upon the lower jaw bones, just above the chin, very 
hard. The swelling continued to enlarge, extending to the 
nose and lips. At day-break on Sunday he came for me. On 
arriving, I found the mare hanging her head, with the whole of 
her nose, lips, tongue and jaws very much swollen ; though the 
swelling had not yet got to the throat. The pulse was per- 
fectly regular; the breathing natural, but the breath very 
offensive. I immediately abstracted about four quarts of blood, 
and tried to administer some warm ale, with zingib. and 
aloes 3ij, but got only a small quantity of the drink down, 
owing to the tongue being so much swollen. I then had the 
whole of the head fomented with warm water. After a few 
hours the swelling seemed subsiding, but about 2 A.M. it re- 
turned with tenfold intensity. The throat, the eyes, and the 
whole of the head, face, nose, & c. becoming of an enormous 
size. The tumefied nose, &c. reminded me of the lips of the 
hippopotamus. I continued to foment and steam the whole of 
the head by means of an empty corn-bag and pailful of scald- 
ing hay, in which some chloride of lime had been put. But all 
to no purpose. She lived but until the following day, occa- 
sionally drinking a little meal and water, by putting her head 
up to the eyes into the bucket, and sucking it up. I scarified 
the face, jaws, &c., and from the punctures some yellow serous 
fluid escaped ; all, however, I repeat, proved in vain. Before 
she died her breath had become so offensive I could hardly 
