ON EPIDEMIC pneumonia. 
177 
penis, and general immobility of the animal. The pulse was hard, 
and little developed at first, but it soon became full and strong. 
To these soon supervened foetid discharge from the nose — the 
breath also becoming still more foetid — -the mouth and body gene- 
rally cold — the countenance of the animal having a piteous expres- 
sion — the hair standing on end — the head depressed — the pupil 
dilated, and the eye fixed. The pulse now became small, and in- 
termitting and soft — the perspiration at the flank ceased, and death 
evidently approached. 
Little could be prognosticated with regard to the duration of the 
disease, from either the nature or the succession of the symptoms. 
Some horses died on the third, others on the fourth, and others not 
until the eighth day from the first attack. There were many, how- 
ever, who did not survive the first day ; and some, while they were 
feeding, and with every appearance of health about them, dropped 
and died as if from apoplexy. 
Post-mortem appearances. The mucous membrane of the 
trachea and bronchi was ulcerated — eroded, and filled with pus. 
The bronchial glands were enlarged, and turgid with blood, or 
sometimes suppurating. The substance of the lungs was hepatized 
and enlarged, and then ulcerated, and softened, so that it might be 
torn with the greatest ease. Its exposed cells were filled either with 
serous fluid, or with grumous blood and purulent matter, of almost 
a black colour. The inflammation extended to the pleura, and even 
to the pericardium and diaphragm. In every lingering case effusion 
was discovered in the thorax. 
These lesions sufficiently proved that the disease was essentially 
inflammation of the lungs, had the difficult breathing, the peculiar 
character of the pulse, the coldness of the extremities, and the atti- 
tude and motion of the patient left any doubt on the subject. 
Treatment . — As many horses were attacked at the same time, 
we were at first disposed to believe that it was some contagious 
malady that had crept into our stable ; and therefore certain preven- 
tive measures were adopted, such as diligently cleaning and fumi- 
gating the stables, and separating the healthy animals from the 
sick ones. 
As soon as the disease was evident in any horse, he was bled 
from the jugular vein, and also from that which is commonly called 
the girth vein. The quantity of blood abstracted was always con- 
siderable, but regulated by the temperament and strength of the 
animal, and the apparent intensity of the inflammation. This de- 
cisive measure seldom failed in some degree to relieve the ani- 
mal, and in some cases was sufficient to cut short the disease at 
once. Setons in the chest and blisters were also used, and emol- 
lient injections were thrown up. Internally nitre was given in 
VOL. XII. A a 
