260 
THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA 
these climates will be in some measure understood, and the 
mode of relief so obvious as to be within the reach of every one. 
The weakness in the loins, usually termed the Pallamcottah 
disease, from its predominating there, is, I think, occasioned by 
exhaustion. At the above place, I am informed, the land winds 
very much prevail ; and from what I have before observed in this 
section, on the effects which these arid winds must produce on 
the system, complaints arising from exhaustion must be very 
likely to ensue ; and the weakness of the loins, I have every 
reason to believe, is seated either in the nerves or spinal marrow. 
That it is not in the muscles is evident, from the resistance it 
makes to the most forcible remedies; and, still more, from the 
peculiar action which exists in all the joints posterior to the loins — 
an action which any medical man may observe to arise from a 
disease in the nerves. The action is short and sudden ; or 
else it gives way altogether, and the animal trips : in fine, I ima- 
gine it to be a species of palsy, and equally as difficult to cure. 
If this suggestion is true, it will be the same with the effects 
of exhaustion from the land winds or excessive heat. 
Spasm and convulsions, and all the various forms of disease 
which so suddenly destroy the animal, I imagine arise from the 
same cause. If what has been said in this section be admitted, 
these diseases will be found to be a natural result, and what we 
have a right to expect. We will suppose that at Pallamcottah, 
or any other place where these diseases prevail, the arid and 
destructive winds to which this country is exposed have existed 
some time. The effects, at first, will be a stronger action through- 
out the system, and all the passions, as desire, &c. will be 
excited. While aiding the effects of the atmosphere, the excit- 
ability will be soon nearly exhausted ; yet, from the existence 
of the very powerful stimulus of heat, a full action is-supported. 
If at this period a sudden change in the temperature should fol- 
low, and rain with cold immediately succeed, the effects on the 
animal will be, that, the nearly exhausted system, not having the 
strong stimulus that is required, the action of the heart will be- 
come very weak, the whole system will be debilitated, and almost 
immediate death may be the consequence. 
The exhaustion may, however, be such, even without the 
admission of cold, as to destroy life ; or, the exhaustion not being 
so great in other animals, weakness of the loins and other nerv- 
ous affections may ensue. 
Diseases very similar may be produced from a sudden return 
of intense heat after rain or cold, which I imagine to be worse 
than the former. In this case, the excitability having accu- 
mulated, the excitement or stimuli first employed should be very 
