MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC. 
123 
the common e|3idemic, inflammation of the mucous membrane of 
the respiratory passages, but soon involving other portions, 
and then ensued diarrhoea, which no art could arrest. The 
fever, acute at first, rapidly passed over, and was succeeded by 
great prostration of strength. The inflammation now spread to 
the cellular texture, and there was a peculiar disposition to the 
formation of phlegmonous tumours: sometimes there were pus¬ 
tular eruptions, but oftener deep-seated tumours rapidly pro¬ 
ceeding to suppuration. Connected with this was a strong 
tend^cy to decomposition, and unless the animal was relieved 
by some critical flux or evacuation, malignant typhus was es¬ 
tablished, and the horse speedily sunk. 
Brugnone^s Account of the Epidemic of 17SS. —The most satis¬ 
factory account of one of these epidemics is given us by Profes¬ 
sor Brugnone, of Turin. It commenced with loss of appetite, 
staring coat, a wild and wandering look, a staggering from the 
veiy commencement: the horse would continually lie down and 
get up again, as if tormented by colic, and he gazed alternately 
at both flanks. In the moments of comparative ease, there were 
universal twitchings of the skin, and spasms of the limbs; the 
temperature of the ears and feet was variable. If there happened 
to be about the animal any old wound or scar from setoning or 
firing, it broke open, and discharged a quantity of thick and 
black blood. Very shortly afterwards, the flanks, which were 
quiet before, began to heave, the nostrils were dilated, the head 
extended for breath. The horse had by this time become so 
weak, that if he lay or fell down he could rise no more; or if he 
was up he would stand trembling, staggering, and threaten¬ 
ing to fall every moment; the mouth was dry, the tongue white, 
and the breath foetid ; a discharge of yellow or bloody foetid 
matter from the nose—foetid blood from the anus. The duration 
of the disease did not usually exceed twelve or twenty-four 
hours; or if the animal lingered on, swellings of the head and 
throat and sheath and scrotum followed, and he died exhausted 
or in convulsions. 
Post-mo7'tem Appearances. —Black spots of extravasation were 
found'in the cellular membrane, in the tissue of all the mem¬ 
branes, and on the stomach. The mesenteric and lymphatic 
glands were engorged, black, and gangrenous. The membrane 
of the nose and the pharynx was highly injected, the lungs were 
filled with black and frothy blood, or with black and livid spots. 
The brain and its menino^es were unaltered. 
Further History. —It commenced in March 1783. The bar¬ 
racks then contained one hundred and sixteen horses; all but 
thirteen were attacked, and seventy-eight of them died. The 
