132 
THE EPIDEMICS OF 1836. 
the origin of influenza. I do not mean its external cause, for 
that will not be discovered for many years. I mean the begin- 
ning of the disease. Does inflammation exist during the pre- 
febrile stage? or does it exist before the fever is developed ? 
THE EPIDEMICS OF 1836. 
By Mr. W. Percivall, M.R.C.S . , fy F.S. 1st Life Guards. 
Disease has prevailed to an extraordinary extent among 
horses during the summer and autumn of the present year. 
Two distinct epidemics have come under my notice at different 
times, nowise alike, and seemingly in nowise connected. 
The first made its appearance in the month of May, and de- 
clined and ceased in June. It was characterized by dulnessand 
dejection ; by complete and often long-continued aversion to food 
of all kinds ; by sore throat, and in some instances by catarrhal 
symptoms; by celerity of pulse ; by the speedy accession of de- 
bility; and by an insidious proneness to run into chronic pneu- 
monia. In fine, altogether, it did not materially differ from many 
former epidemics. 
But the second, which commenced in July, and still in the 
metropolis (October), and probably in many country situations, 
continues to prevail, though its prevalence appears much abated, 
has assumed altogether a different aspect from the ordinary epi- 
demic. It has manifested this one, among other peculiarities, — 
that in no instance has it presented the appearance of catarrh. 
Symptoms. — Dulness, and indications of pain in the head ; 
disinclination to take food ; partial closure, with slight puffy 
tumour of one or both eyelids; intolerance of light; a trifling 
issue of tears from the inner canthus ; mouth hot, but moist ; 
fulness of the skin under the jaw ; legs, most commonly all four, 
swollen and tender to pressure ; sheath infiltrated ; gait stiff, 
straddling, and, in some instances, so difficult in the hind 
quarters, as to excite suspicion that the loins were affected ; 
pulse about 60 ; alvine and urinary excretions, if sensibly altered, 
diminished, there being a disposition to constipation. 
The Peculiarities of the present prevailing epidemic consist, 
first, in its singular uniformity of character: in upwards of one 
hundred and thirty cases that have occurred immediately under 
my own observation, it has preserved, with slight variations, 
identical distinctive signs : the eyes, the legs, the gait, the 
sheath, the submaxillary interspace, have, one or other, or all of 
