EPIDEMIC FEVER NOW PREVALENT AMONG HORSES. 217 
and more or less difficulty in voiding it; the dung contracted 
into small hard balls, and sparing in quantity. 
Such are the ordinary— the very ordinary symptoms. 'Now and 
then the disorder has been ushered in by a shivering fit, which 
I have known to last (off and on) for twenty-four hours. Some 
cases exhibit catarrhal symptoms along with the above: a cough 
is a common concomitant; a discharge from the nose more 
commonly supervenes upon the primary disorder than com¬ 
mences with it. The most common of the sequels of the dis¬ 
order is, swelling in the legs—the hind always, sometimes the 
fore too. In two or three cases it has been ushered in by 
vertigo, to such a degree that the animal has with difficulty 
staggered a few paces from his stall into a box. 
It might be inquired. What there was peculiar or extraor¬ 
dinary in all this? I will offer my own ideas by way of meeting 
—perhaps not of satisfactorily answering—such philosophical 
queries. 
1st, I consider the said malady extraordinary , because it 
attacks many horses at the same season, without manifesting 
any results that lead me to pronounce it contagious. 2dly, I 
consider it to be of a nature not well understood by veterinary 
nosologists, because it manifestly disorders the whole frame and 
constitution of the animal, without evincing any signs enabling 
us to detect its seat or its source. In one case the eyes are 
most affected; in another, the legs; in a third, the air-pas¬ 
sages; in a fourth, the brain. In many, none of these local 
attacks have developed themselves. 3dly, I consider it to be 
of a nature different from diseases in general, because it will 
not unfrequently make its appearance in an animal at the very 
time that he is under the influence of those agents which are 
found most effectual in its removal. 
I repeat, I have found the disease unattended with danger. 
At least, I have treated it after a very simple fashion ; and to 
such simple treatment it has (in every case) yielded, and left 
the animal a little debilitated, or more or less reduced in con¬ 
dition; a state from which I have, myself, always been in the 
habit of placing most faith in good feeding and grooming as 
restoratives. In the majority of cases I have not found it 
necessary to let blood : be it understood, however, that, so far 
from being averse to the practice, I am always prepared with 
my lancet, which I not only use with promptitude whenever I 
deem it necessary, but am even always inclined so to do in cases 
presenting anything dubious in their character. 1 feel I may 
err, and seriously too, in withholding my lancet; but I have no 
such misgivings when 1 use it. For all this, however, I repeat. 
