154 
THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG HORSES. 
morbid nervous irritability of the aerial passages than upon the 
inflammatory-like action at the same time evident in them, and 
that as such it is not relievable by — does not, in fact, call for — 
blood-letting. On the contrary, I have seen it increased by blood- 
letting. It must be regarded, in fact, when present, rather as a 
symptom of disordered nervous system than one arising — as in 
common cases of bronchitis — from the inflammation present in the 
air-passages. 
Heaviness and Dulness of the Eyes, with or without 
swelling of the eyelids , is another symptom remarkable in some 
cases, while in others it is not noticeably present. The eyelids 
sometimes swell to that extent that they become actually closed, 
and the swelling extends for some distance around the orbits ; in 
others there is neither swelling nor fulness to be perceived in them, 
and yet they have a heavy drooping aspect, and the eyes them- 
selves appear as though they lacked their ordinary transparency, 
and yet nothing like opacity is detectible in them. This dull and 
lack-lustre aspect no doubt arises from the inflammatory action, so 
general in the body, pervading the internal parts of the eye, as 
well as the conjunctive membrane, in which latter it is evident to 
inspection, as well as in the membrane lining the nose, both mem- 
branes — and we may add that of the mouth as well — being more 
injected than in health, and presenting — as was mentioned before — 
a remarkable yellowness with their heightened complexion. From 
the corners of the eyes (as well as from the nose), there is also, 
particularly in those cases in which the eyelids swell at all, more 
or less oozing of thin dingy-looking purulent matter. These ap- 
pearances about the eyes are very characteristic of the distemper. 
The Bowels, on occasions, seem to bear the brunt of the 
disease. Either at its onset, or shortly after, diarrhoea commences, 
and the patient manifests more or less uneasiness in his bowels by 
being down and up continually in his box, lying sometimes with 
his head and limbs extended at length, breathing hard, perhaps 
occasionally grunting or groaning. And with all this we may and 
generally do have quickened and difficult respiration, and the other 
symptoms of thoracic disease as well. This is a sad and ominous 
combination of symptoms, such a combination as will require all 
the skill and attention the veterinarian can give it to treat to a 
successful termination. More commonly it happens that the bowels 
do not shew any derangement until some days after the disease 
has set in, though at all times they appear ready to do so on the 
slighest stimulus to them, even after inordinate draughts of water, 
particularly of cold water. And diarrhoea is a much more un- 
manageable and dangerous symptom setting in late than early in 
the disease ; so long as the animal system maintains its sthenic 
