80 
DISEASES OE THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 
In this case one of two things must be true. 
Either the heart and liver were in a condition of fatty 
disease previous to the catarrhal attack, or they became so 
during the week of the illness preceding the animal’s death. 
If we succeed in disproving the latter position, the former 
becomes self-evident. The adoption of this method will be 
most simple, concise, and satisfactory. 
Absolute evidence upon the point under consideration 
cannot be obtained, our conclusions therefore must be infe¬ 
rential; but by an inquiry into the conditions under which 
fat is deposited we shall not find much difficulty in forming a 
decided opinion. 
First. The deposition of fat pre-supposes the consumption 
by the animal of food containing a certain per centage of fat- 
producing elements, for any excessive deposit of fat an excess 
of such elements is required. 
Secondly. The digestive powers must be sufficiently active 
to appropriate these elements of food previous to their depo¬ 
sition. 
Thirdly. The process of fatting” requires some consider¬ 
able time under the most favorable circumstances. 
Fourthly. The artificial production of the disease occupies 
some weeks when animals are purposely crammed with diet 
rich in fat elements, and are altogether kept in a state most 
favorable for the development of the condition. 
In the case before us none of these circumstances are 
present. 
During his illness the horse’s appetite is certainly impaired, 
probably lost, so that less food of any kind is consumed. 
His digestive functions are less active. The time is not 
sufficient to permit any large deposit of fat, even were its 
elements consumed and digested. Taking into account the 
period required for the production of the fatty disease when 
all the circumstances are favorable, it will amount to a 
reductio ad alsufdum , to assume its development in a shorter 
period, all the circumstances being unfavorable. 
It would not be difficult to strengthen this conclusion by 
reference to the animal’s previous history, the evidence he 
offers in his own condition of the consumption of food con¬ 
taining a large amount of fat-producing materials, coupled 
with the fact that the object has all along been to induce 
such a state of obesity as now amounts to actual disease. 
So long as purchasers demand the smooth and rounded out¬ 
line will the same course be pursued ; and good, sound, (( sea¬ 
soned” horses continue in scarceness. Complications such 
as we have been discussing do not of necessity lead to a fatal 
