708 
VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
from the deeper-seated parts of the earth some vapour had 
escaped, not cognizable by our senses, but destructive to life. He 
gave a long and interesting account of many of these convulsions 
of nature, and expressed his belief that they were somewhat con- 
cerned with the epidemic which had prevailed. 
The Secretary having finished the reading of the paper, Mr. 
Sewell immediately observed that he waived every privilege which 
the laws of the Association might give him as a practitioner and 
as President. Let his paper be treated like that of one of his 
pupils. “ Here I am,” said he, “ and l am ready to answer to 
the best of my power any question that may be put to me.” 
Air. J . Turner inquired whether cases had not occurred in 
which the disorder was exceedingly intense, but no vital organ 
participated ? 
Air. Sewell. — There were some instances in which no vital 
organ participated ; but then there was general oedema. 
Mr. Sibbald. — If there was such general disturbance, must it 
not be considered as a disease of the nervous system ? 
Air. Sewell. — Undoubtedly the great prostration of strength 
must be traced to nervous affection. There may be apoplexy, 
or effusion in the spinal cavity. He had seen serous effusion 
within the spinal membranes. 
Air. J. Turner. — Was there no cough ? 
Air. Sewell. — Not in many, and rarely violent. 
Mr. J. Turner. — The disease seemed to be common to all 
localities ? 
Air. Seiuell. — Yes ; many were brought to us who had been 
turned out for the season. 
Mr. Simonds. — Was not the liver constitutionally affected at 
first ? 
Air. Sewell . — Rarely. There has been occasionally a slight 
yellow tinge. I, however, differ from the common opinion here. 
I do not trace this to bile thrown into the system, but to its not 
being removed from the system by the secerning power of the 
liver. In many, the liver was perfectly sound ; in others, con- 
gested. It was a perfectly Protean disease. He knew but of 
one viscus that had not been affected, and that was the 
bladder. 
Air. King, jun. — What was the prevalent cause? He had 
many cases, but not one from the fields. The horses had all 
been regularly at work, and their stables were as clean and as 
well ventilated as possible, and in good and even elevated situ- 
ations. 
Mr. Sewell. — We had some foals that had been turned out in 
June and July. 
