HYSTERITIS IN A MARE. 
178 
January 11 th, 1844. — Mr. James Peck, of this place, requested 
me to see a seven-year-old cart mare, in good condition. I was 
informed that the mare had aborted twin foals on the night of 
the 9th inst.; but as her appetite was not impaired, little notice 
was taken of her until this afternoon, when the following symp- 
toms were observed : — A slight rigor — the body bedewed with 
sweat in patches, and the look gloomy and depressed. Soon after 
this she became uneasy, frequently lying down and looking at 
her flanks; but there was no violence, or attempt to roll upon 
her back. She walks stiffly, with her back roached. There is 
not any appetite. 
On more closely examining her, I found the pulse 85, hard and 
incompressible — the visible mucous tissues highly injected — the 
vagina red, and discharging a foetid bloody fluid — the state of the 
feces quite normal. 
Treatment . — When I had abstracted eighteen pints of blood, the 
pulse faltered. Having placed her in a loose box, I put a rug on her 
back, and bandaged her legs. I gave a full dose of cathartic me- 
dicine, and ordered a bran mash to be placed within her reach, 
and to be watched during the night. 
12 th . — Pulse 50, soft — the mucous tissues nearly normal — no 
indication of abdominal or other pain — the discharge from the 
vagina less in quantity and more healthy — medicine doing its 
duty. On the whole, she is much better, and has eaten her mash. 
Give a fever ball. 
13 th . — Continuing to improve — appetite good. Give a fever 
ball. She was fed carefully for a few days, when all the functions 
became healthy. 
Observations . — In my note book I find that in all the cases I 
have treated (i. e. of hysteritis), the system has tolerated the 
effects of the loss of blood to a surprising degree. 
The symptoms of inflammation of the womb are, many of them, 
common to enteritis and colic; yet, if we may judge from the 
animal’s mode of expression, I should say the sufferings are not so 
acute as in either of these diseases. It generally occurs between 
the second and fourth days after delivery. The foetid discharge 
from the vagina, and the stiff awkward gait, will assist very much 
in distinguishing it from enteritis; and it never can be mistaken 
for colic by him who will pay diligent attention to the case. 
