CASES OCCURRING IN AFRICA. 
75 
1852. The usual remedies were had recourse to, and, to- 
wards the end of the month, all unfavorable symptoms had 
subsided; the horse feeding well, and, I may say, being con- 
valescent, I was about to take him off the sick list, when, on 
visiting my infirmary stable, a few days afterwards, the 
farrier reported that the horse was lame, and appeared in 
great pain. On proceeding to the stable I found him suffer- 
ing from fever in the feet, and instantly had blood taken from 
the toes; administered a brisk cathartic; applied poultices to 
the feet, blisters to the coronets, &c., but without any benefit, 
for he continued to get from time to time worse. The soles 
were sunk, and I was under the necessity of having him 
destroyed on the 19th of July following. 
The post-mortem appearances were hepatization in the right 
lobe of the lungs, with adhesions. The coffin bones of both 
fore-feet were found displaced, and nearly protruding through 
the sole ; as may be seen by the preparations of the feet, still 
in my possession. 
Portobello Barracks; January 13 , 1854 . 
CASES OCCURRING IN AFRICA. 
By W. Thacker, V.S., 12th Lancers. 
Dear Sir, — I send you in rough copy four cases. I have 
not attempted to put them in any form, fearing I might not 
succeed : in fact I question whether you will think them 
worth perusal, much less publication. I have given the 
symptoms as they appeared in each case, and also the post- 
mortem appearances. We have many difficulties to contend 
against in this country, with regard to the treatment of dis- 
ease ; our stabling being nothing more than open sheds, and 
no boxes nor separate stables where sick horses might be 
placed by themselves ; and the sudden changes of weather 
from excessive heat to extreme cold and rain, cuts them up 
fearfully. Post-mortem examinations have sometimes to be 
hurried through or not completed ; for the carcases having to 
be removed about two miles from the cantonment, the exa- 
minations must be complete before dusk, or else the vultures, 
wolves, and jackals complete it for you ; so that if death does 
not take place until mid-day, or from any cause the carcase 
cannot be removed to the charnel-house until late, these 
examinations must necessarily often be very imperfect. An 
absurd thing occurred to me, with regard to one of my own 
horses that died. He was sent to the usual cemetery, I fol- 
lowed in about an hour ; and, lo-and-bchold! all that remained 
