INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 183 



cold and cough are the first consequences. What must inevitably happen 

 to the horse that stands, twenty hours out of the four-and-twenty, in a 

 heated atmosphere, and stands there warmly clothed, and every pore of 

 his skin opened, and the insensible perspiration, and the sensible too, pro- 

 fusely pouring out, and then, with his coat stripped from his back, is turned 

 shiverino- into a nipping winter's air? The discharge from the skin is at 

 once arrested, and the revulsion, or pernicious effect of the sudden stoppage 

 of a natural evacuation, falls on the lungs, too much weakened, and disposed 

 to inflammation by heated air and poisonous fumes. 



These simple observations are pregnant with interest and instruction 

 to all connected with horses. He who would have his stud free from 

 disease, and especially disease of the lungs, must pursue two objects, 

 coolness and cleanliness. In the gentleman's stable, the first of these is 

 studiously avoided, from the prejudice or the idleness of the groom, 

 and from these stables proceed most of the cases of inflamed lungs ; 

 especially when this heat is combined with that temporary but mischiev- 

 ous nuisance, the repeated breathing of the same air during the night, 

 and that air more vitiated by the fumes of the dung and urine. In the 

 stables of. the post-master, where not only closeness and heat, but the filth 

 that would not be endured in a gentleman's establishment, are found, both 

 inflammation of the lungs and glanders prevail ; and in the stables of many 

 agriculturists, cool enouofh from the poverty or the carelessness of the owner, 

 but choked with filth, inflammation of the lungs is seldom seen, but mange, 

 glanders, and farcy abound. 



Inflammation of the substance of the lungs is sometimes sudden in its 

 attack, but generally preceded by symptoms of fever. The pulse is occa- 

 sionally not much increased in frequency, but oppressed and indistinct ; 

 the artery is plainly to be felt under the finger, and of its usual size, but 

 the pulse no longer indicates the expansion of the vessel, as it yields to the 

 gush of blood, and its contraction when the blood has passed ; it is rather 

 a vibration or thrill, communicated to a fluid already over-distending the 

 artery ; in a few cases, even this almost eludes the most delicate touch, 

 and scarcely any pulsation is to be detected. The extremities are cold ; 

 the nostril is expanded ; the head thrust out, and the flanks begin to heave. 

 There is a peculiarity in the working of the flank. It is not the deep 

 laborious breathing of fever, nor the irregular beating of broken wind, 

 in which the air appears to be drawn in by one effort, while two seem to 

 be necessary to expel it; but it is a quick, hurried motion, evidently 

 expressive of pain, and of inability to complete the action, on account 

 of the pain, or of some mechanical obstruction. The membrane of the 

 nose is of an intensely florid red — more vivid in the inside corners of the 

 nostrils, and remaining concentrated there, if at times it should seem to 

 fade away higher up. The countenance is singularly anxious, and indica- 

 tive of suflfering, and many a mournful look is directed at the flanks. The 

 horse stands in a singular manner, stiflf, with his fore-legs abroad, that the 

 chest may be expanded as much as possible, and he is unwilling to move, 

 lest for a moment he should lose the assistance of the muscles of the arras 

 and shoulders, in producing that expansion ; and, for the same reason, he 

 obstinately stands up day after day, and night after night ; or, if he lies 

 down from absolute fatigue, it is but for a moment. 



In many instances, however, the approach of the disease is very treach 

 «rods, and the most careful practitioner may be deceived. The groom 

 may perceive that the horse is somewhat ofl" his feed, and dull, but he pays 

 little attention to it ; or if it arrests his notice, he only finds that the coat 

 ■tares a little, that the legs are colder than usual, and the breathing in a 



