810 DISEASE OF THE LUNGS AND CHIEF ARTERIAL TRUNKS. 
temperature. The pulse was 62 in the minute, full, but soft and 
regular. The respiration was, however, greatly accelerated, 
being not less than 56 in the minute, but the inspirations and 
expirations, as to time of performance, were equal, that is, 
each occupied the same period. Nothing remarkable was 
observed in either the alvine or urinary evacuations. Auscul¬ 
tation of the chest afforded decisive evidence of disease. On 
either side the vesicular murmur was scarcely audible, whilst 
the bronchial respiration, although exceedingly feeble, might 
be distinctly heard in every region. Percussion elicited a 
clear sound from every accessible part of the chest. The 
heart was regular in its action ; but there was an evident 
weakness in its impulse, and its healthy sounds had been 
replaced by a single sound—a murmur much resembling a 
strong puff. 
A soft diet was ordered, diuretic and alterative medicine 
given, and a strong blister applied to the breast. From the 3rd 
to the 12th the mare's appetite improved considerably, and she 
was seldom heard to cough; nevertheless, her breathing was 
not observed to undergo any change whatever. On the 
latter-named day, however, her appetite began to fail, and 
her breathing became more accelerated and also irregular. 
It was 65 and sometimes 72 in the minute, while each expi¬ 
ration was attended with a faint grunt. The pulse was 
smaller and more frequent, numbering 66 in the minute. 
It was, however, neither intermittent nor irregular. The 
chest still gave a hollow sound on percussion, and the bron¬ 
chial respiration was better developed, being somew'hat 
rougher and stronger. The heart's impulse and murmur had 
suffered no change. The mucous membranes retained a 
healthy colour, and the skin and extremities continued warm. 
26th.—There has been rapid wasting of flesh during the 
last ten days. The appetite is now gone, and the mucous 
membranes have become of a pale colour. The pulse is 
72, small and jerking. The respiration numbers 76 in a 
minute. The heart, even now, acts regularly, but its impulse 
is more feeble, and its murmur consists simply of a faint 
whiff, scarcely audible. The mare has never been down 
during her illness. She continued until the morning of 
the 4th of October, when she expired. 
Post-mortem examination .—Four tumours possessing a glo¬ 
bular form, and differing but little in magnitude—each being 
about the size of a cricket-ball—were found at the root of 
the mesentery. They w ere in close contact with each other, as 
also with the spine, and the large blood-vessels of the intestines. 
On cutting into them. I found that they consisted of a pale- 
