666 
EPIDEMIC AMONG HORSES. 
when this alarming and fatal disease broke out Fifteen horses 
died, and some idea may be formed of its malignity from the 
fact, that, between the 2d and the 14th of January, eleven were 
lost. This epidemic raged with greatest violence about three 
vreeks, when it began to assume a milder form, and gradually 
disappeared. The principal points to which 1 beg to direct the 
attention of the reader are its peculiar debilitating and depressing 
nature, the great value of stimulants in my treatment of it, and 
the intense disease of internal organs that may exist without 
perceptible pain. 
The cavalry barracks at Glasgow are situated on the north 
side of the Clyde, on a slightly rising ground. The last winter 
was unusually severe ; and about the time that this disease 
appeared we had a great deal of damp, heavy, foggy weather : 
the prevalent wind in that season was from the north east. 
These barracks have generally been considered as unhealthy for 
horses, but from what particular cause I am unable to determine. 
The men’s rooms (as is usually the case in English barracks) are 
built over the stables ; the forage was of fair quality ; the water 
was conveyed by pipes from the River Clyde into the barracks ; 
the ventilation was of the ordinary description ; and the horses 
were not unusually exposed during the season, but had their ge- 
neral exercise. 
So far as I may venture an opinion on the cause of this epi- 
demic, I can only refer it to some unaccountable character of 
atmosphere ; and while I am on this topic, I may add (although 
I do it with reluctance, because it is mere supposition) that 
there was a gasometer erected outside the barrack wall, the 
effluvia from which, at certain states of the atmosphere, were 
highly offensive, and especially in the heavy damp weather pre- 
valent at that time. 
I am of opinion that this may have assisted, together with 
some peculiar atmospheric influence, in the formation of the 
disease ; and I am confirmed in this opinion by the fact, that 
immediately after this gasometer began to work the epidemic 
appeared. The malady was confined at first to the youngest 
horses, but, as its fatal character was more developed, horses of 
every age suffered. The bad or good condition of the animal 
seemed to be thus far only connected with the disease, that the 
horses which were attacked were generally in the best order. 
In the first stage of the disease, the following were the symp- 
toms : — The animal was unusually dull, and was off his feed, 
or he ate with indifference ; there was hanging of the head and ears. 
The pulse usually rose to 50 or 60, and was very weak ; there 
was likewise great debility of the muscular powers : the eyes 
