PNEUMONIA, OR LUNG FEVER. 123 



The fluids thus escaping into the air cells and in the minute branches 

 of the little bronchial tubes become coagulated. 



The pleura covering the affected parts may be more or less inflamed. 

 A continuance of the foregoing phenomena is marked by a further 

 escape of the constituents of the blood, and a change in the membrane 

 of the cells, which become swollen. The exudate that fills the air 

 cells and minute bronchial branches midergoes disintegration and 

 softening when healing commences. 



The favorable termination of pneumonia is in resolution, that is, a 

 restoration to health. This is gradually brought about by the exuded 

 material contained in the air cells and lung tissues becoming broken 

 down and softened and absorbed or expectorated through the nostrils. 

 The l)lood vessels return to their natural state, and the blood circu- 

 lates in them as before. In the cases that do not terminate so haj)- 

 pily the lung may become gangrenous (or mortified), or an abscess 

 may form, or the disease may be merged into the chronic v^ariety. 



Pneumonia may be directly induced by any of the influences named 

 as general causes for diseases of the organs of respiration, but in 

 many instances it is due to neglect. X common cold or sore throat 

 may be followed by pneumonia if neglected or improperly treated. 

 An animal inay be debilitated by a cold, and when in this weakened 

 state may be compelled to undergo exertion beyond his strength ; or 

 he may be kept in bad quarters, such as a badly ventilated stable, 

 where the foul gases are shut in and the pure air is shut out : or the 

 stable may be so open that parts of the body are exposed to drafts of 

 cold air. An animal is predisposed to pneumonia when debilitated 

 by any constitutional disease, and especially during convalescence if 

 exposed to any of the exciting causes. Foreign bodies, such as food, 

 accidentally getting in the lungs by way of the windpipe, as well as 

 the inhalation of irritating gases and smoke, ofttimes produce fatal 

 attacks of inflammation of the lung and bronchial tubes. Pneumonia 

 is frequently seen in connection with other diseases, such as influenza, 

 purpura hemorrhagica, strangles, glanders, etc. Pneumonia and 

 pleurisy are most common during cold, damp weather, and especially 

 during the prevalence of the cold north and northeasterly winds. 

 Wovinds puncturing the thoracic cavity may cause pneumonia. 



Symptoms. — Pneumonia, when a j^rimary disease, is ushered in by 

 a chill, more or less i:)rolonged, which in many cases is seen neither 

 by the owner nor the attendant, but is overlooked. The breathing 

 becomes accelerated, and the animal hangs its head and has a very 

 dull appearance. The mouth is hot and has a sticky feeling to the 

 touch ; the heat conveyed to the finger in the mouth demonstrates a 

 fever; if the thermometer is placed in the rectum the temperature 

 will be found to have risen to 103° F. or higher. The pulse i.s fre- 

 quent, beating from fifty or sixty to eighty or more a minute. There 



