ANALYSIS OF CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
83 
from the 2nd of January to the date of the author^s report. 
These all terminated fatally. In the pasture of Monte 
Pelligrino locases^ followed by death, were observed amongst 
150 horses. 
Symptoms .—These do not present different stages, on 
account of the short duration of the malady. The first sign 
is loss of appetite; the animal is oppressed and comatose ; the 
extremities and the surface Qf the body become cold, the 
respiration accelerated, the pulse small, intermittent, and 
increased to about 56 per minute; the mucous membranes 
are infiltrated and of a dirty white or yellow colour, the alvine 
evacuations are normal, and the urine scanty. On placing 
the hand on the left flank unusual movement is perceived, 
as if the peristaltic motions were accelerated. As the disease 
progresses the state of coma increases, the extremities become 
icy cold; the pulse is imperceptible, and the paleness and 
dryness of the mucous membranes are more marked. The 
respiration also is more accelerated and entirely thoracic. The 
movement of the intestines are now convulsive, and on placing 
the hand on the right hypochondriac the hepatic circulation 
can be distinctly felt, and is quite different from the rhythm 
of the heart. The patient evinces colicky pains, making 
attempts to lie down, and looking sometimes at the right and 
sometimes at the left flank. The urine is now completely 
suppressed, the respiration suffocating, the pulse indistinct; 
the ice-coldness of the body, the convulsive movements, 
the increasing spasmodic contractions, the continual getting 
up and lying down, the increasing debility, the animal being 
hardly able to stand, are the precursors of speedy death. 
The blood drawn from the vein at different stages of the 
malady presents the following characters : 
1st. At the invasion it flow^s freely, but at a later period 
wuth great difficulty, depending on a gradual loss of the serum. 
2nd. The colour at the commencement is of a reddish- 
violet, which becomes more marked as the disease pro¬ 
gresses, and in proportion to the quantity of serum it 
contains, and the increase of the carbonic acid. 
3rd. The consistence is treacly, which increases with the 
progress of the malady. 
4th. Exposed to the air at the divers hours of the progress of 
the malady, it was found during the first period to be of a ver¬ 
milion-red colour, showing that it was still capable of oxida¬ 
tion ; this, however, becomes gradually less with the onward 
progress of the malady, and is completely lost at the near ap¬ 
proach of death. The opening and shutting of the mouth, 
which is a characteristic symptom in animals struck with this 
XLII. ^ 
