CASES OF THE EPIDEMIC, 
17 
22cL— He eats a little mash, and picks over his hay: pulse 
45, and feeble ; bowels inactive. I gave a dose of physic in so- 
lution. 
23d. —No change for the better. Pulse risen to 55, but 
weaker. He drinks freely, but does not eat anything ; bowels 
torpid. I gave 3 viij gentian and ^viij ginger in balls ; blistered the 
region of the liver most extensively, and gave clysters frequently. 
24/ A. — Pulse 60, and weaker ; bowels torpid ; he drinks 
freely. Repeated the ball. The blister has not had any effect. 
2 5th. — The pulse is now 70, and nearly indistinct. Patient 
worse in every point of view ; debility extreme ; he can hardly 
stand. Repeated the ginger and gentian one ounce each ; ap- 
plied the strongest blister all down the neck and front of chest, 
in order to rouse the system from its lethargic state. In the 
afternoon the animal began to nod his head ; he grew giddy, 
and reeled about, and he fell at six p.m. The pulse was imper- 
ceptible, and I imagined that he would die like the others : 
however, after lying for some time, apparently in a dying state, 
he got up with extreme difficulty, voided a great quantity of soft 
faeces, and from that time every unfavourable symptom began to 
disappear. The blisters acted uncommonly well ; the bowels 
became regular, and the animal, by the help of strong tonics 
daily, regained strength. He was discharged on the 24th Fe- 
bruary, apparently doing well. The patient was re-admitted on 
the 31st March. From the period when he was discharged, he 
had continued to throw his head about a good deal, both in the 
stable and at exercise ; but as he was doing so well, and making 
flesh rapidly, I considered it might be only a habit, until within 
the last few days, when he fell backwards whilst at exercise. The 
appetite was now very good, coat sleek, and bowelsr egular. From 
this time he became slowly worse : he was perpetually tossing 
his head, night and day ; and on the least excitement of noise, 
or when put out of his way in any manner, he would rear up on 
his hind legs, and give battle with his fore feet against the wall, 
and end by losing all command over himself, and falling violently 
backwards. His appearance when undisturbed was a constant 
motion of the head, and shaking of it as if to get rid of some- 
thing annoying, and a swaying of the hind extremities, so that a 
spectator would almost think it impossible for him to keep his 
balance. I treated this new appearance in every way that I 
could devise, but without effect. I blistered the head — I 
blistered the whole spine — sheepskins were applied over the 
loins — I tried the effect of emetic tartar, &c. &c. The case, at 
last, became so hopeless, that I recommended his being de- 
stroyed ; but before the order arrived, the animal, whilst eating 
VOL. x. D 
