ON ANGINA TONSILLARIS IN HORSES. 
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becoming exceedingly violent, if not absolutely dangerous ; whereas 
warm mashes, or no food at all, tend materially to ameliorate the 
complaint. 
The usual duration of the complaint is from twelve to fourteen 
days; but where the attack is slight, and a judicious course of 
treatment is pursued, it often does not last more than eight days ; 
on the other hand it may, under opposite circumstances, extend its 
duration to three weeks or a month. 
Termination. — The disease usually terminates in a perfect cure, 
after the inflammation of the tumours of the ear had reached its 
height, and the swellings have burst and discharged all their puru- 
lent matter. Death seldom ensues, unless there is some unskilful 
treatment, or the animal is suffered to perish from suffocation, in- 
stead of the operation of tracheotomy being practised. 
Post-mortem Appearances. — On the post-mortem examination 
of those which have died of angina tonsillaris, the glands of the 
ear are found to contain abscesses of various sizes, from that of a 
walnut to the size of a man’s fist. These abscesses contain matter 
similar in appearance to that of all glandular enlargements. 
Causes. — The causes of angina tonsillaris are exposure to cold, 
either from standing in some draught, from working in wet or 
snowy weather, or exposure to cold winds, or the animal being 
over-heated, and then suffered to stand in a draught, or to drink 
cold water, or being driven through water. Why angina ton- 
laris should be the consequence of cold taken in this manner, I 
cannot explain any more than I can the reason why rheumatism 
or inflammation of the lungs are brought on by other kinds of 
cold. All that we can say is, that the system is thus predisposed 
to take on this peculiar affection ; but whether it is occasioned by 
too great susceptibility, or too great weakness of the parts at- 
tacked, is as yet unknown. 
Prognosis. — This is in general favourable ; for even when the 
disease assumes its most violent form, and we are compelled to 
confine ourselves to therapeutic treatment, and there seems every 
danger of suffocation, we can still have recourse to tracheotomy, 
and thus put an end to the fatality of the disease, even though we 
cannot immediately reduce the suffering. There is, in general, 
little danger of death ; for, although the disease is painful and vio- 
lent, it may generally be managed, and is not difficult to conquer 
when taken in time and properly treated. 
Indications. — Every thing which is at all likely to increase the 
complaint should be removed. The animal should be kept quiet; 
and every means employed to bring the swellings to a head as soon 
as possible. I am by no means an advocate for opening the ab- 
scesses ; on the contrary, 1 have never seen such proceeding at- 
