518 ON THE RECENT EPIDEMIC AMONG HORSES. 
the chloride of mercury, with double the quantity of opium, morn- 
ing and evening, taking care to watch the action of the former, 
and omit the latter, when the bowels are inclining to be consti- 
pated. This latter state is relieved by linseed oil and clysters. 
I have usually found this treatment to succeed ; it requires, how- 
ever, a little more attention to the action of the medicine. I next, 
if necessary, set up counter-irritation on the sides and breast, by 
blistering the former, and introducing a rowel in the latter. The 
bowels should be kept in order by mucilaginous drinks, such 
as linseed tea, or water gruel, &c. 
If the disease assumes a favourable aspect on the fifth or sixth 
day, or towards the eighth, then diminish the repetition of the 
medicine. When prostration of strength occurs, I support the 
patient by nourishing diet, &c. ; and administer the mineral 
tonics, combined with a little gentian powder. 
When it terminates in resolution, it generally leaves behind it 
a chronic cough, which must be treated accordingly. 
This is my laconic but clinical plan of treatment : but when 
the pleura both of the lungs and chest become inflamed, the 
symptoms indicate measures more vigorous and decisive. If 
the inflammation extends from the lungs to these membranes, 
then the diagnostic marks are altered. Instead of the quick 
feeble pulse there is a full and bounding one, or in some patients 
a hard and wiry one. A full and free abstraction of blood is then 
necessary, and in this type of the disease we must bleed repeatedly, 
until we change the character of the pulse. In this case an ape- 
rient is deemed advisable, with alteratives in the after-treatment. 
If the disease should terminate in hydrothorax (or an effusion 
in the chest), then depletive remedies would probably increase the 
disease, and destroy life. If there is no affection of the heart, 
sedatives, such as digitalis, or even antimonial powder and nitrat. 
potass, with tonics, is useful, to which I have had recourse ; and 
when this does not succeed, paracentesis thoracis, as a last resource, 
is adopted, but which I never had an opportunity (in any of my 
cases) of trying. 
Having traced the disease thus far in its progress, I shall point 
out another organ but too often affected, either combined or un- 
combined, with the other organs attacked, viz. the heart and its 
capsule ; and on which practitioners have not bestowed sufficient 
attention, or have overlooked it altogether. In a former part of 
this paper it was mentioned that in some instances of the dis- 
ease the heart was full and bounding in its action, although at 
the radial and submaxillary arteries it would be quick, feeble, and 
irregular. In such patients the treatment must be modified in pro- 
portion as this organ is more or less affected. I could not ab- 
