CONSUMPTION
.—A consumption is a disorder to which horses are very much subject, particularly the carriage horses of the great and opulent: these fall victims to the unmerciful ambition of nocturnal grandeur, in the four, five and six hours street-waiting in the most dreary nights of the most dreary winter. Consumptions originate in colds, which being ill managed or neglected, constitute an increasing viscidity of the blood; this preternatural consistence renders it more languid in its circulation; and it is, of course, proportionally impeded in its progress through the finer vessels of the lungs. Here then obstructions are first formed; as these increase, the passages become impervious; the tubercles continue to enlarge, till the vessels are partially distended to their utmost extent, when inflammation takes place, and maturation follows. This stage completed, the tumours rupture; some probably heal by the efforts of nature, and others become corroding ulcers, laying the foundation of inevitable danger, and distant death. To a penetrative eye, and distinguishing hand, the predominant symptoms will be immediately found to exceed the traits and appearances of a common cold: the unequal and difficult respiration; the kind of half-suppressed, sore, hollow cough, (denoting an internal sensation of pain,) terminating in a sort of resigned moan; a constant desire to masticate hay, without any seeming enjoyment of it; a general heavy dulness, the palpable effect of conscious decay or debility; and a frequent looking to and after the person accustomed to superintend him, exciting reason to believe he may expect or hope for relief from the very hand from whence it has been usual to derive support.
When brought into motion, the flanks heave, and the cough comes on in proportion to the increase of action and circulation: the pain thus produced soon excites profuse perspiration: by the efforts of snorting, sneezing, and blowing, to relieve himself from the load under which he labours, the discharge from the nostrils is increased, and gets deeper in colour, according to the duration and inveteracy of disease. Different subjects are very differently affected by the gradations of this disorder, (to which but a faint expectation of relief can be at all formed;) as one horse will continue to appear constantly declining, and to waste away perceptibly, every symptom becoming more predominant and distressing, till the scene is finally closed; while another shall alter but very little in flesh, coat, or external appearance, till within a few days of his falling dead in his stall.