The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 47
part, the horse experiences a pricking sensation fre-
quently attended with rigour, the system being in a
perfectly passive state during this time. I consider the
abstraction of the invigorating principle is not confined
to the solids, but the vital fluids also. There is a loss of
animal heat, the skin is cold, and if it is permitted to go
on radiating, the whole system soon becomes thoroughly
affected, and the vital powers are thrown prostrate, par-
taking somewhat of a state of torpidity. It must not be
forgotten that the skin is a perfect network of nervous
filaments, and that these nervous filaments have both
direct and indirect connection with all the nervous
centres, and through them with every vital organ in the
body. My own experience has proved to me that influenza
is not dependent upon a low temperature of the air. If cold
weather was of itself an exciting cause, we should always
find the greatest number of fresh cases on the day
or the day after an intensely cold day and night,
whereas we do not find that to be the case. I have
found nearly as many fresh cases during the prevalence
of beautifully fine, dry, warm weather, with a clear
crisp atmosphere, as in a wet, dull, murky atmosphere.
I mean during the whole time the epizootic is prevalent.
A long continuance of east winds may possibly contribute
some of the conditions necessary to its development,
but of this I am persuaded whenever epizootic disease is
prevalent, the mystery is dependent upon some invisible
subtle agency operating from without, and exists in the
atmosphere. I do not wish to be understood that the
whole force of the attack is instantaneous. Supposing
an animal in perfect health, and in tip-top condition,