ON CHOLERA IN DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 
209 
Early in 1830, an epizootic disease commenced, by which, for 
some weeks, several horses in Edinburgh and its neighbourhood 
were affected; but until the beginning of June it had not be¬ 
come very serious. During the latter part of that month, and 
throughout the two following ones, however, it became more 
formidable, and a great number of horses were seized with this 
affection. 
The disease appeared to consist in an inflammation of the 
mucous membrane of the organs of respiration; the pulse rose 
to a range of from sixty to ninety, according to the severity of 
the case : there was slight soreness of the throat, weak cough, 
breathing quickened; the animal heavy, with great weakness, 
and that rapidly ensuing ; bowels easily acted iipon: surface of the 
body natural in temperature, but with a more than ordinary ten¬ 
dency to get cold in the extremities. The disease was, however, by 
no means fatal, so that in one establishment (Mr. Piper’s, mail- 
coach contractor), out of thirty-two horses seized with this dis¬ 
ease, only three died; and other proprietors were, at that time, 
equally fortunate. The treatment in these cases was bleeding; a 
dose of mild laxative medicine ; and blisters applied to the sides. 
The preparations of antimony and nitre, as alteratives, were given 
during the inflammatory stage of the disease, and those of iron 
and gentian as tonics, to restore the strength when that had sub¬ 
sided. 
Some mild weather setting in during two months in Autumn, 
the disease almost entirely disappeared ; but as the weather 
afterwards changed to wet, with the wind blowing from the east, 
the disease commenced a most destructive career, and spread 
over the neighbouring country, more especially East and Mid 
Lothian. It was not confined to these districts alone ; neither 
were horses entirely the subjects of the disease; both cattle 
and sheep had suffered throughout the whole of this season, so 
that it has been calculated, that of sheep 2,000,000 died of 
the rot during that year*. 
By a reference to my case-book, I find that it commenced 
again about the end of October, and increased in severity through¬ 
out the months of December, January, and February; during 
which time upwards of one hundred and fifty cases occurred 
in my practice, of which about thirty died, giving striking 
proof of the severity of this serious epizootic. 
In the beginning of January, 1831, I had an opportunity of 
knowing that cattle had been extremely affected, because I was 
requested by the Right Honourable Viscount Arbuthnot to visit 
* Library of Useful Kiiowledp^e. 
D d 
VOL. VI. 
