ON THE EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA OF 18-%. 
(>33 
what feeble ; there was great prostration of strength, and the 
horse staggered at every motion ; I therefore did not bleed him. 
At about ten o’clock at night a messenger came to say that the 
patient was much worse ; that he was down and could not get up. 
I immediately went, and found the account to be too true ; he 
was down and stretched out on his side ; respiration was very 
slow and stertorous ; his pulse was about the same ; he started at 
the slightest touch or noise about him. I got him up, but it was 
with difficulty we could keep him on his legs : he reeled very 
much, and required several men to balance him. Here also is 
evident determination to the brain. I bled him, but he could not 
bear to lose more than seven pints. I gave him a purgative of 
five drachms of aloes, and inserted setons behind his ears. The 
moment I had completed this he fell down. I made him as com- 
fortable as I could, and left him under the care of an attendant 
for the night. 
22 d. — His physic purges a little ; his respiration is rather 
quicker; he cannot stand, and he is decidedly worse than when 
l left him last night. Horn down some thick gruel frequently 
to-day. 
23 d. — Purges briskly ; every symptom aggravated, and he is 
sinking fast ; pulse 84 ; respiration much disturbed ; extremities 
cold, and perspiration breaking out in patches: unless speedily 
relieved he must die. Give him immediately two scruples of 
opium, two drachms each of ginger and gentian, and half an 
ounce of gum myrrh ; and repeat it every eight hours. 
24 th. — I was quite surprised this morning to see my patient 
up and looking out at a little window, and at the same time 
eating a bit of hay. I was informed by Mr. Cook that he began 
to amend after taking the medicine; and at ten o’clock last night, 
when Mr. C. went out to look at him before going to bed, the 
horse was up and feeding. He has eaten a tolerable quantity of 
hay in the night; continue his medicine morning and evening. 
2 5th. — Much better; has fed pretty well; can command him- 
self, and turns about firm and well : give him his ball without 
the opium, morning and evening. 
26th. — Still improving; give him daily three drachms each of 
ginger and gentian, and half an ounce of gum myrrh ; and move 
the setons. 
28 th. — Going on well : continue his medicine ; increase his 
allowance of oats. 
Feb. 3 d. — Quite well, except his loss of condition. Discontinue 
medicine ; let him be led out every day. From this time nothing 
more was done, except that he was kept in for a few weeks, in 
order that his strength might be thoroughly established before 
vol. ix. • 4 p 
