ON THE RECENT EPIDEMIC AMONG HORSES. 519 
stract blood, nor administer purgatives, sedatives, narcotics, nor 
establish any counter-irritation, as this is rather adding fuel to 
the fire, and debilitating an organ which is already weakened by 
disease, and which ought rather to be supported, in order that it 
may carry on its proper functions in the circulatory process. 
The nervous system having the controul over the vascular one, 
all medicinal remedies employed operate indirectly upon this 
organ ; and the consequence of so depressing nervous energy all 
of us know without any comment on the subject. If we increase 
the action of it by chemical agents, depression, as a consequence, 
follows, with all its bad effects. 
It is an involuntary muscle for propelling the vital fluid through 
all the different parts of the body, which serves for the purpose of 
nutrition and secretion. When the main organ is therefore im- 
peded in its action, from whatever cause, the inquiry will naturally 
arise, what remedies can be employed in counteracting so deeply- 
seated and important a part in the animal economy. Should 
the disease then manifest itself in the type under which I have 
viewed it, it is evident that other symptoms will arise indepen- 
dent of the peculiarity in the action of the heart and arteries. 
Accordingly we find a greater prostration of strength ; the animal 
is dull, and his eyelids pendulous over his eyes ; his head resting 
on the manger ; disinclination to move ; appetite diminished ; 
dropsical swellings in various parts of the body; suppressed 
secretion of urine, &c. Towards the latter stage of the disease 
the hinder extremities fail, and paralysis of them takes place ; 
all the functions in the body are depressed ; the swelling in- 
creases until the animal drops and is unable to rise again ; and 
then death puts an end to his miserable existence. 
The treatment must be prompt and decisive, as it soon bids 
defiance to all our pharmaceutical agents. The attempt must 
be made to arouse the dormant state of the constitution and the 
strength of the patient : all other things are useless. The best 
means that I have had experience of, and which I can rely upon as 
an effectual remedy, are powerful stimulants combined with tonics, 
such as a half bottle of sound porter or ale every two or three 
hours, combined with some of the mineral tonics, as sulphate of 
iron or the carbonate of ammonia; and, in order to excite the 
action of the urinary organs to produce absorption of these drop- 
sical effusions, spirit of nitrous ether diluted with water, or in the 
porter, is beneficial, and also puncturing the swellings with a 
lancet. Digitalis, although an excellent diuretic, has too much of 
a sedative effect. 
Allow the animals to get plenty of nourishing diet, such as 
boiled barley, or a few raw potatoes, or greens of any kind, when 
