120 
THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
After a long continuance of rain, succeeded by intense heat, l 
should imagine a horse more liable to it than at any other time. 
Another argument in support of its being a general disease is, 
that, almost invariably, it commences by an increased action in the 
heart, which in its first attack is a general fever, but in the 
course of a few hours the lungs become the immediate seat of 
disease. 
The more remote causes are accounted for in the following 
manner : — In the chapter on general diseases it was observed, 
that heat was one of the most considerable stimulants employed 
to act on the accumulating irritability of the system ; conse- 
quently, on a diminution of this power, as in cold or rainy wea- 
ther, an increased accumulation of irritability is the result : and 
this state of the body is very severely acted on by a small degree 
of stimulus, as before explained. Thus, after long rains or cold 
weather, the return of the stimulus of heat acts in a very power- 
ful manner, increasing the action throughout the system. A 
general inflammation is the result, which is first observed by 
the pulse being tight and cordy, from the coats of the arteries 
being strongly irritated. The frequency implies the same state 
in the heart, which is excited to action before the ventricle is 
filled. 
In the horse, this state can last but a few hours, from the 
very strong muscular power of the heart and arteries which, in 
this animal, exists in a considerably more extensive proportion 
than in the human subject. The lungs also lying so immediately 
contiguous, and supplied so conspicuously with arteries, it soon 
becomes the chief seat of disease, which is found to be the case 
on examining the lungs after death. If the animal dies of what 
farriers term fever, the lungs will be generally found in a state 
of very great inflammation, and frequently mortified ; while the 
heart will discover conspicuous marks of inflammation on the 
right side, which supplies the lungs with blood. 
The symptoms are, a hot, dry breath, and heaving of the 
flanks; the animal hangs his head and never lies down, but gene- 
rally stands with his fore-legs wide to expand and relieve his op- 
pressed chest. The pulse at first will feel tight and quick, but 
soon becomes very much oppressed. 
If relief is not afforded on the first attack, success must not be 
expected. The moment this disease is discovered five or six 
quarts of blood should be taken from a very large orifice, and 
repeated if necessary in ten or twelve hours, as a cure can only 
be expected from the most powerful remedies. Frequently, after 
bleeding, the pulse becomes stronger, from the distention being 
removed. 
[To be continued.] 
