162 A SINGULAR CASE OF ANASARCA IN A HORSE. 
is removed. The symptoms are nearly the same in anasarca and 
oedema, this difference alone existing, pathologically speaking, 
between the two affections, — that oedema occupies ordinarily only 
a small portion of the trunk, while anasarca extends over a wider 
surface, as in the present instance, where it spread over more 
than half the frame. As to the mode of development, it is the 
same in both. 
Causes. — Anasarca appears to me to be developed under the 
influence of some exterior cause, as in the present case. On 
the morning of the day in which our patient became ill, a cold 
rain, coming all at once, suppressed the abundant perspiration, 
which more than usual hard work had occasioned. But, where- 
fore, in this case, did it act in so sudden and violent a manner on 
the animal economy ? Wherefore this peculiar mode of develop- 
ment? Is it to be attributed to some peculiarity of constitution 
in the patient, or to his age, or to a peculiar disposition in the 
mode of vital action in some particular organ ? The solution of 
these questions is difficult. 
3 d . — The infiltration is gradually increasing. The animal is de- 
pressed, — he hangs his head — his eyes are dull — his mouth is 
hot — his saliva is ropy — the tongue is thickened, inflamed — 
there is great difficulty in breathing — the urine is in small quan- 
tity, red, and with abundant sediment —the bowels are consti- 
pated. I could only explore the pulse at the temporal artery: 
it is small and hard — the appetite is gone, and the thirst not great. 
Treatment . — Throughout the whole extent of the anasarcous 
swelling, I introduced, at distances of nine or ten inches from each 
other, cylinders of caustic potash of different lengths, according 
to the depth or the situation of the infiltration — each piece being 
kept in its situation by pledgets of lint introduced into the ori- 
fices. Barley gruel was administered by a syringe, the lips being 
perfectly immoveable. Light astringent gargles were also used, 
and emollient enemata. 
Considerable exacerbation of every symptom took place in the 
night. 
4th and 5th. — In the same state. The same treatment, except 
the removal of the cautery. 
6th. — The state of anasarca the same. The lint of the different 
caustics was now removed, and in such a manner that scarcely a 
vestige of the places which they occupied could be seen. Some 
hours afterwards a small discharge of limpid fluid without any 
smell began to ooze from these openings. Three or four times 
in the course of a day, these parts were washed with an infu- 
sion of aromatic plants, to which was added a small quantity of 
liquid ammonia. 
