THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
335 
Influenza still continues to prevail, though not, as will be seen 
by the report, to such an extent as during previous months : the 
disease is also accompanied by the same tendency (before noticed) 
to involve in inflammatory action mucous and serous membranes 
in connexion with the respiratory apparatus ; but there has been 
only one fatal termination of this affection during April, although 
some cases were much protracted in consequence of the tendencies 
referred to. 
The cases of ordinary inflammation of the thoracic viscera have 
exceded in number those occurring during March, one of which 
has died, and deserves particular notice. The patient, a well-bred 
black horse, six years old, had been affected with pleurisy eight 
days previously to application being made here, and a dose of 
physic had been given him, which had increased the disease and 
rendered the pulse small and wiry. He was bled to as large an 
extent as he could stand, and his sides were blistered ; but a degree 
of effusion had taken place in the chest, and there was some infil- 
tration of serum into the cellular tissue in the dependent part of 
the surface of the abdomen, and also in the extremities. Blood- 
letting could not be repeated, and recourse was therefore had to 
the administration of iodine, which was continued twice a-day in 
large doses. When the animal was inclined to eat, mashes and 
gruel were ordered, and his general comfort attended to. Tapping 
was not had recourse to in this instance, as it was considered that 
there would, from the previous duration of the case, be principally 
an effusion of lymph upon the costal and pulmonary pleurae, forming 
false membranes, and which would prevent a proper evacuation of 
the fluid, while at the same time it seemed a case in which the 
iodine promised to be of service. That medicine was therefore 
given, and in a short time it was evident, on auscultation, that the 
effused fluid was diminishing, respiration became much easier, the 
cellular infiltration gradually subsided, the animal began to feed 
with apparent appetite, heat returned into the extremities, and his 
bodily strength, although still much impaired, gradually improved. 
Such a state of matters continued progressing for three weeks, and 
the patient gave every indication of recovery, until he began to 
lie down, which he did first during the day, but on the following 
night, having lain down in an unfavourable position, he struggled 
until he was exhausted, which in his debilitated condition produced 
such an effect upon the system and the disease, that in thirty-six 
hours he died. Attempts were made to raise and sling him ; but 
so exhausted had he become by previous exertions, that all assist- 
ance was ineffectual. 
The body was examined after death, and the case proved to be, 
as we all along considered it, one of genuine pleurisy ; lymph in 
