314 
HE VIEW — A TREATISE ON THE 
mentary canal during the summer, bear the brunt of the disease; 
but often there is scarcely a viscus in the body that does not 
become diseased.” 
Mr. Spooner then hints at the opinion of Mr. Karkeek, that 
the peculiar symptoms of the epidemic are owing to the morbid 
state of the fluids. The action of some peculiar aerial poison in 
the atmosphere, disturbing the balance of the constituent ingre- 
dients of the blood, or acting by its own morbific power ; and 
he very properly urges a more attentive analysis than has yet been 
made of the constituent parts of the blood in health, and under 
this disease. “ Private practice,” he observes, “ will by no means 
afford sufficient opportunities for instituting these experiments ; 
but he would venture to suggest them to the officers of the 
Veterinary College, among whom he could mention one gen- 
tleman, in particular, whose talents and chemical acquirements 
peculiarly qualify him for the task.” 
Of the causes of the disease he very commendably speaks with 
doubt. It is certainly to be attributed to atmospheric influence— 
but of what kind ? Is it to the withdrawal of a portion of one of 
the ingredients of atmospheric air, or to the increased quantity 
of another, or to the presence of some peculiar poison ? Such 
inquiries, in our present state of chemical and meteorological 
knowledge, he regards as altogether unsatisfactory. On the 
question of infection his views are truly philosophical. “ For 
my own part,” says he, “ I am disposed to think that the great 
majority of the cases of this disease is produced by the same 
aerial cause; but this prejudicial state of the atmosphere may 
be enhanced by the prevalence of the complaint, and may derive, 
as it were, an accession of its poisonous qualities from the ema- 
nations of those animals that are suffering under its influence.” 
On the treatment of the disease he is peculiarly happy ; he 
speaks of the apparent discrepancy in the opinions of some of 
the ablest and most enlightened practitioners. And he asks, 
" Can we not find out some neutral ground on which all may 
assemble — some general principles in which all may coincide ?” 
He thinks that we can ; for “ all will acknowledge, that this dis- 
ease requires a cautious system of treatment, and that the reme- 
dies, whatever they are, must be mild in their nature.” He consi- 
ders the remedies in order. He first discusses the question of 
bleeding. He confesses th at in all cases that are strictly and solely 
febrile in their nature, and unattended with any local inflamma- 
tion, the animal may recover without bleeding; but then we 
must bear in mind how frequently the disease is accompanied 
with severe inflammation of vital organs, and that in nineteen 
fatal cases out of twenty, if the animal docs not sink from pur- 
