FISTULOUS WITHERS 
85 
thereby induced; and he will, during the remainder of 
his life, be liable to colds and other affections of the 
lungs. 
The symptoms of this malady are something similar to 
those which accompany inflammation of the lungs; and as 
the medical treatment differs considerably, it becomes a 
matter of considerable importance to be able to distinguish 
the one from the other. Inflammation of the lungs is 
always attended by a febrile and oppressed pulse, and is 
indicated by an early discharge from the nose, but is unac¬ 
companied by the intense redness of the mucous membrane 
of the nostrils—which is manifested in catarrhal fever ; and 
is invariably attended with a painful, frequent, and hard 
cough, enlargement of the glands, and inflammation of the 
throat, variable warmth and coldness in the limbs, and 
rapid loss of strength. 
In the year 1832 a distemper prevailed which swept ofl 
many horses. It was considered a contagious epidemic, and 
was ascribed to some latent atmospheric phenomena, which 
was never satisfactorily accounted for; nor were the modes 
of treatment of the time attended with beneficial results. 
By post-mortem examinations it was found that the liver 
was invariably affected, and an imperfect secretion of bile 
was the consequence. This caused increased action of the 
pulmonary arteries, followed by rupture and congestion oi 
blood at the heart, producing immediate death. 
FISTULOUS WITHERS. 
Symptoms. —This consists of one or more hot and tender 
tumours formed upon the withers. If neglected it ends in 
a large and deep ulcer, and will sometimes extend beneath 
the shoulder-blade-—or scapula—and consequently becomes 
extremely difficult of cure. 
