Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others].

Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    635/690 (page 549)
    pulse full and quick, or at times intermittent, and regurgitation may be observed in the jugulars, the breathing is quickened, and the indi- vidual respirations shallow. On watching an animal in this condition it may be noticed that it takes 7 to 8 very short inspirations, and these are followed by a much more prolonged and sonorous one; at the same time the breathing is more abdominal than thoracic in character. On examination of the legs it will be found that the swelling and edema have increased considerably, and that on the under surface of the abdomen, where it was previously confined to the sheath, it has now commenced to spread forward along the subcutaneous tissue between the skin and the muscles. During the whole of this time the appetite will have varied little, and the evacuations will be only slightly, if at all, altered in character. In the blood a repetition of the previous events takes place, the parasites make their appearance and increase to a maximum and again suddenly or gradually disappear, according to the length of the fever period. These periods, alternating with and without fever, may go on for a considerable time. The progress of the disease is variable and greatly depends upon the condition of the animal attacked, the weak one succumbing very rapidly, but each return of the fever brings with it, as a rule, an increase in the sever- ity of the symptoms. There is increased yellowness of the mem- branes, fresh crops of petechise on the conjunctiva, a collection of gelatinous material at the inner angle, which at times becomes red in color from an admixture of blood, and which on microscopic examina- tion is found to contain a varying number of the surra parasites; increased swelling and edema of the extremities and abdomen, which now extends between the fore limbs and up the chest. During this time the wasting has been steadily progressive, especially of the muscles of the back and those surrounding the hip joint and the glutei. Toward the termination of the disease it will be noticed that an animal is disinclined to move, and when made to do so there will be manifest loss of power over the hind quarters, somewhat simulating a slight partial paralysis, and the hind quarters of the animal reel from side to side. In connection with this it may be noted that there is fre- quently present paralysis of the sphincter ani and a dilated condition of the anus. These symptoms taken together point to some interference with the normal functions of the spinal cord in the lower dorsal and lumbar regions, and are probably due to pressure caused by an exu- dation within the spinal membranes. In many cases shortly before death the heart’s action becomes exceedingly violent, shaking the whole frame at each beat, so that the sound can be heard at some dis- tance from the animal. In some of these cases the animal may sud- denly drop dead; in others the emaciation and weakness become so pronounced that the animal falls to the ground, and, after a short struggle, succumbs to the disease. In other cases, again, the animal