222 ON CilOLEKA IN DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 
slime. This latter circumstance is, however, also found in the 
more chronic forms of the disease. 
On examining a severe case of this kind, it is found that the 
pulse is, perhaps, raised to eighty, ninety, or above a hundred ; 
it is small and thready, and scarcely to be distinguished in the 
arteries, while at the heart it may sometimes be distinctly felt. 
The mouth is generally colder than natural; either dry, with white 
furred tongue, or filled with a frothy mucus. But there is little 
time to spare in examination : the animal throws himself to the 
ground, and continues to toss about, or frequently rising and 
lying down again until relieved in some way or another. If the 
extremities are felt, they are cold to the touch, and the tips of 
the ears are not less so ; but the extremities are not only cold, 
but they have become remarkably fine or shrunk. Convulsive 
spasms soon take place, and he dies. 
On examination after death, we find there is a great determi¬ 
nation of blood to the deeper seated parts; they are highly in¬ 
flamed, and the vessels injected with blood. The symptoms and 
appearance vary, however, according to the rapidity of the dis¬ 
ease. 
The epizootic, which at ‘present rages, has a somewhat cu¬ 
rious character. It has been much less destructive than is 
generally the case with diseases of the bowels, while, at the same 
time, it presents various modifications. The most conspicuous, 
and that to which I would more especially direct attention, is 
diarrhoea, which is now very prevalent. This is the more re¬ 
markable, because that complaint in horses is extremely rare. 
By improper treatment, such as allowing a horse to drink a large 
quantity of cold water previous to setting out on a long journey 
or severe exercise, such a disease is readily produced; but it is 
quite a different thing to have so many cases without any ap¬ 
parent cause. 
With the exception of those I have mentioned, I have had no 
opportunity of examining the post-mortem appearances of any 
of those cases of diarrhoea; but, coupled with the circumstance 
of a great number of other cases of diseased bowels, and having 
many symptoms in common with the ordinary cases of diseases 
of the intestines, I cannot but conclude that the mucous mem¬ 
brane of the intestines is the part affected. By referring the 
malady to this part, we are enabled, indeed, to accountfor all the 
phenomena which occur. W'e see that a certain excited state of 
that membrane produces the same effect as when it is acted on 
by purging medicine, depriving the blood of its serum. We see 
also, that in horses the discharge of mucus coating the dung in 
fiakes is the flocculent mixture in the matter discharged; we have 
