Year: 1872

may be considered as an impossibity. yet We can
not definitely decide the point without further in
more obstinate cases. l am satisfied, however,
that speedy cure and complete restoration to
TONER and profit to the owner will be hard to sue
cessfully accomplish, yet, Notwithstanding. have
no no intention Of discouragtAg others fom making
the attempt. PW.puru heni0rrhd0icd, or as 1t has
been Improperly called dropsy, Is the latest phase
which the epzooty has taken, and differs widely
other disease OF d scOrbutic diathesis.


The symptoms exhibited in purpMa he,no,Tha-
low and pse Secomng at times
quick and irregular; very low action OF the heart,
at times hardly perceptible; rapid swelling OF one
or all the eXtremties, the nose and the face
Should all these parts become affected at the same
time, and continue to swell rapidly, the disease
will run its course much sooner than when only
part OF the body is attacked.


In cases where different parts OF the body are
at the most dependent parts the thinner portions
OF the skin become puned up, presenting bloated
and disgusting appearance, aud slight discharge
ing increases the parts become enormously large,
accompanied by mixed discharge Of blood
and oaor 4 the asease
the lower parts OF the abdomen become badly
swollen, anu Il grth or surcingle be allowed to
press upon the parts, 10 seems to aggravate the
swelling. The same Is the case when the halter
rests upon the nose; in fact. even very slight
Gency to swell. At this stage OF the disease the
blood is thrown outwards, under the skin, and by
the orce OF It's own ~ G gravity collects S In the most
now a poisoned carbonized mass, and neither
nature nor science has the power to force it back
through the lungs for the purpose OF decarboniza-
tion; and even ii this were possible in such q
poisoned state, it would have a most destructive
have to pass Should the animal survive this ter.
rible condition, and the head not become swollen to
such an extent as to cause sulfocation or conEes-
tion OF the brain, he will finally begin to rally.
what little circulation there may be left goes to
work x,. The heart begins to beat high and quick,
small load to be conveyed through life's channels.
The appetite begins to return, and all the internal
organs OF the body commence work to throw of
the diseased and useless parts ana build up anew
But unfortunately in this class OF cases, as with
many others, the effects Of the disease have been
too severe ior nature to withstand the shock.
The poisonous matter from the external decaying
parts creeps into the vital channels, the appetite
Is again suspended, the horse sinks fast and dies
shapecss mass OF decomposition; In fact it ap-
pears as II natures laws had been reversed-that
Is that decomposition had taken place before DEATH


Another form Of ptvpurG hemOrThdgicd alto
gether different from the one just described is also
prevailing at present, but with fatal results,
and likewise q seQatel0 OF the epiz0oty. This at
tacks such horses as were but slightly affected
with The latter disease and where the patient was
exercise to excite 0 strong circulation accom-
panied with perspirati0n and then, allowed to cool
OIL, thereby effectually closing the eXhaants OF the
skin and causing the poisonous secretions OF the
body to be thrown in instead Of out upon the sur
face. In consequence the entire surface OF the
body and extremties become cold, the circulation
becomes congested, the bowels cease to act, the
urine Is retained and the animal then ex-
iaternal organs Of the body; that is, they sever
ally cease to perform their natural functions The
horse appears greatly distressed and exhibits
symptoms OF colic although there are no signs OF
natuency or boating. The urine is retained, even
when the bladder may be quite full. Should II be
considered necessary to make use OF the Catheter,
and If on withdrawing it, we find a thick mixture
Of mucus and sediment adhering to its outer sur
lace lace we then haye aR evidence that there has
inability OF the urinary organs to discharge It, and
conclusiveb showing that the blood Is loaded with
a useless, morbid matter, that will require
all the powers Of the animal system as well as our
selves to remove 1t, and the failure Of which will
soon become apparent in the condition OF the
doubt its propriety, as it only gives unnecessary
pain, without a1ording any relief to the patient.
pcrcnce.


Ii we study closely the anatomy OF the cutaneous
tissue skin, and consider the important func-
tions it performs in the animal economy as the
great gate OF cgress for the escape OF the poison
GUS secretions % Of the body as well as It's great
find all the internal organs Of the body IN q most
deplorably diseased condition, where its the skns)
natural functions have for q long time been sus-
pended We have daily evidence or this fact before
us, and OF which any one possessing the least
If we take into consideration the fact that even
before the patient may have lost his strength, and
II was then impossible for the body to throw of
these morbid and poisonous secretiOns, how can
1t seem possible for 1t TO perform that Office after
being poisoned by excessive medication, weak





mulated sccretions OF morbid matter For this
reason think that In many cases the chances Of
recovery . are very doubtful. The termination Of
congestion OF all the internal organs OF the body,
the lungs becoming congested and gangrenous
from the same causes as the external parts Of the
body would were the circulation OF the blood
forced outward.


Another termination of the epizooty Is rheu-
matlsm, but which, however, is Of no great con-
sequence, as In all cases it Will be apt to soon
disappear after sufficient time has elapsed to allow
the blood to resume its circulation in the eX-
tremities, from which it has so long been pre-
vented.


Other examinations OF the epizooty are preva-
lent, but, as they are OF comparatively mild
type and originate from the one cause, they are
easily accounted for and not worth mentioning
here.


Before closing my remarks will give my opinion
regarding what consider the causes Of the cpl
zooty, hoping thereby to induce others more com
petent to examine into and capable Of explaining
the same; and II my own theory is found to be
erroneous regarding its origin, or my mode OF
treatment condemned as being inconsistent,
shall be willing to be convinced by the force OF truth
but until then shall hold fast to my own views,


In the first place, the long and excessive heat OF
the past Summer has caused constant and exhaust
ing exhalation from the animal system, to such an
extent to prevent its resisting the injurious in
nuences incident to sudden changes OF tempera.
ture. An examination OF our meteorological re-
ports will show that remarkable changes have
occurred In the atmosphere during the past two
months, when compared with the same months
of previous years. and under the circumstances it
might be reasonably expected that all animals
might be affected more or less in consequence.
That the horse is more easily affected by sudden
changes OF temperature may be accounted for
from the great sensibity Of his skin-perhaps
more SO than any other OF the animal race. Man
kind, although protected by an external covering,
do not possess that extreme sensibity OF the skin
peculiar to the equine race.


Again, the horse, from his peculiar formation,
suffers more and Is affected in such manner as to
require a discharge through the larynx, hence we
often find him suffering greatly, and even dying
from the effects OF simple cold That there have
been isolated cases OF similar disease to the one
now prevailing as an cpizooty during the latter
part OF the past summer have sufficient proof,
one OF pair Of horses purchased OF Mr..
Martin, dealer In this city, by Colonel II. r. Rath-
bone, OF Washington, d. Co. and were kept for some
time at the stables of Kendall & Belenga, corner
Thirty-eighth street and seventh avenue. They
time were both discharging freely at the nose. At
that time the discharge was supposed 10 be no.
thing more than the breaking up OF colts distem-