260 
ON FEVER IN THE HORSE. 
any other disease ; the other symptomatic, because it is the con¬ 
sequence of some manifest disease. 
Whether fever, however, arise from any local and evident 
cause, or be self-creative, the phenomena observable seem in no¬ 
wise to differ ; from which we are led to the conclusion, that it is, 
either case, pathologically considered, the same disease. 
SYMPTOMS. 
In my narration of symptoms I hope I may be excused for 
copying from my friend Mr. Percivall, whose practical experience 
so far exceeds my own; and which detail is so full, that it admits 
of no addition of mine. 
He says, “ The horse is at first observed to have become spi¬ 
ritless and heavy : in the stall he stands with his head hanging 
down, and manifests unusual disinclination to turn or move ; out 
of the stable, he has evidently lost much of his natural vivacity, 
and is found to sweat on comparatively trivial exercise. The ex¬ 
tremities (the ears and legs) and the surface of the body grow 
cold; the coat becomes roughened ; actual shivering, or an ap¬ 
proach to it, may or may not occur. He refuses the next feed 
put before him; or, should he pick at ail, he prefers the hay, or 
even the new straw. By degrees, the sense of coldness leaves 
the body : at length both the extremities and it grow warm—per¬ 
ceptibly warmer than usual. The mouth, likewise, which was 
livid and cold before, now becomes hot and dry: the pulse rises 
with the accession of heat: in all cases it becomes quick ; in 
most, also full; in others, also hard. Respiration is visibly dis¬ 
turbed : the animal draws his breath, though perhaps still but 
slowly, with a sign of labour or weight evidently unusual. By 
this time, the early dejection is often succeeded by an unnatural 
watchfulness: the horse will have his head raised and his ears 
erect, as if he were in the act of listening, when he proves still, in 
reality, listless of all around him He has now no appetite. His 
dung, if he should have lately voided any, is high-coloured, and 
in small rolls. He stales but little at a time, oftener than usual, 
and perhaps not without some groan or grunt, or extraordinary 
effort. ” 
Such are the symptoms as given by Mr. Percivall; and I 
would state, with him, that we shall find that debility is one of 
the first changes which takes places ; and in all the varieties and 
changes of appearance, debility will always be a leading feature. 
THE CAUSES. 
Debility, over-exertion, customary evacuations suddenly sup¬ 
pressed, cold applied to the body while hot. Horses that are 
