CHAPTER III. 

 Diseases of the Chest and its Contents. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 



SYMPTOMS. Of all the diseases incidental to the 

 horse, that of inflammation of the lungs is the most 

 prevalent, and certainly the most fatal. Sometimes 

 this malady is sudden in its appearance, but in the 

 greater number of cases dullness and fever are pre- 

 monitory symptoms. In its early stages -the pulse 

 is not very rapid, but indistinct and heavy in its action, 

 sometimes feeling vibratory under the pressure of the 

 finger. In other instances it is hardly to be perceived, 

 so languid is its motion. This is followed by dilated 

 nostrils, coldness in the extremities, and heaving at 

 the flanks, which clearly indicate an oppression in the 

 breathing ; differing, however, from the laboured and 

 irregular breathing in broken- winded horses, which 

 appears as if it required two expirations for every in- 

 spiration of air into the lungs. The animal thrusts 

 out his head, the mucous membrane of the nose 

 becomes very red, especially in the inside angles of the 

 nostrils, where it continues ; although at times it 

 extends further up, from which position it may disap- 

 pear, but still maintaining its chief seat in the lower 

 portion of the nostrils. The animal expresses great 

 anxiety in his look, and turns his head frequently and 

 hurriedly round towards his flanks, more especially to 



