13 
PLEURISY — RHEUMATIC INFLAMMATION, &C. 
On THE 28th Sept , full a month from the time she had shewn 
signs of convalescence, she became suddenly attacked with lame- 
ness in her off fore leg. On the first, there was no swelling or any 
heat or other sign to account for the lameness ; on the day after, 
however, the back of the fetlock-joint exhibited that puffy tume- 
faction and heat and tenderness which, plainly enough, indicated 
the nature of the case. It was rheumatic inflammation of the syno- 
vial tissues, originating in metastasis from the membranes of the 
thorax. It seemed extremely doubtful whether the lameness had 
been at all mitigated, or had its course abridged by any treatment 
that was pursued; among other things was tried a mixture of 
tincture of arnica and water — the remedy that is such a favourite 
for allaying inflammation with many surgeons — but that seemed 
equally of no effect. 
By the 14th of October, however, she had pretty well recovered 
the sound use of her limb, when as unexpectedly as the off had 
been the near fore fetlock became attacked with the same ailment. 
From this she recovered in about the same space of time — a fort- 
night or thereabouts — when, 
On the 3d November, a puffy swelling of considerable volume 
arose in the seat of strangles, extending thence to the muzzle, involv- 
ing the lips, particularly the lower lip, in the tumefaction. The puf- 
finess and sense of insubstantiality it gave to the feel, shewed at 
once that the swelling was not strangles ; and yet it was difficult to 
say what it was, or, rather, whence or from what cause it originated. 
It was treated simply by fomentation, the mare being too weak to 
bear much medicine, and, furthermore, had more than once shewn 
some tendency to diarrhoea. In a week’s time the swelling had 
a good deal abated, when a similar tumefaction made its appear- 
ance underneath the belly. Here, to the feel, instead of being 
puffy, the tumefaction exhibited consistence and solidity. Never- 
theless, it was oedematous ; and yet there was no appearance what- 
ever of swelling in the legs. All this while the mare’s appe- 
tite had not failed her. She ate very well, and took her rest, 
though evidently not in the condition or strength she had been, 
even since her pleuritic attack. From the 10th — the day on which 
the swelling under the belly first appeared — until the 18th Nov., 
she had been going on very unsatisfactorily, and from time to time 
had shewn signs of returning diarrhoea ; which I was compelled to 
repress by doses of the pulv. cretse comp, cum opio : an invaluable 
medicine in such cases. She was now in a state in which little 
hope remained of saving her, her appetite having for the first time 
failed, and unusual depression having come on. From the increase 
of the sub-abdominal tumefaction to the breast between the fore legs, 
I was disposed to think effusion of water might have taken place 
