250 THE MEMBRANE OF THE NOSE. 



CHAPTER XII. 



WE now proceed to the consideration of the diseases of the respiratory 

 system. 



THE MEMBRANE OF THE NOSE. 



The mucous membrane of the nose is distinguished from other mucous 

 surfaces, not only by its thickness, but its vascularity. The bloodvessels are 

 likewise superficial ; they are not covered even by integument, but merely by 

 an unsubstantial mucous coat. They are deeper seated, indeed, than in the 

 human being, and they are more protected from injury ; and therefore there 

 is far less haemorrhage from the nostril of the horse than from that of the 

 human being, whether spontaneous or accidental. Lying immediately under the 

 mucous coat, these vessels give a peculiar, and, to the horseman, a most important 

 tinge to the membrane, and particularly observable on the septum. They present 

 him with a faithful indication of the state of the circulation, and especially in 

 the membranes of the other respiratory passages with which this is continuous. 



The horseman and the veterinary surgeon do not possess many of the 

 auxiliaries of the human practitioner. Their patients are d umb ; they can 

 neither tell the seat nor the degree of pain ; and the blunders of the practitioner 

 are seldom buried with the patient. Well, he must use greater diligence in 

 availing himself of the advantages that he does possess ; and he has some, and 

 very important ones too. The varying hue of the Schnciderian membrane is 

 the most important of all ; and, with regard to the most frequent and fatal 

 diseases of the horse those of the respiratory passages it gives almost all the 

 information with regard to the state of the circulation in those parts that can 

 possibly be required. Veterinarians too generally overlook this. It has not 

 yet been sufficiently taught in our schools, or inculcated in our best works on 

 the pathology of the horse. 



It is the custom with almost every horseman who takes any pains to 

 ascertain the state of his patient, to turn down the lower eyelid, and to form 

 his opinion of the degree of general inflammation by the colour which the 

 lining membrane of the lid presents. If it is very red, he concludes that there 

 is considerable fever ; if it is of a pale pinkish hue, there is comparatively little 

 danger. This is a very important examination, and the conclusion which he 

 draws from it is generally true : but on the septum of the nose he has a mem- 

 brane more immediately continuous with those of the respiratory organs 

 more easily got at presenting a larger surface the ramifications of the blood- 

 vessels better seen, and, what is truly important, indicating not only the general 

 affection of the membranes, but of those with which he is most of all concerned. 



We would then say to every horseman and practitioner, study the character of 

 that portion of the membrane which covers the lower part of the membrane of 

 the nose that which you can most readily bring into view. Day after day, and 

 under all the varying circumstances of health and disease, study it until you are 

 enabled to recognise, and you soon will, and that with a degree of exactitude 

 you would have scarcely thought possible, the pale pink hue when the horse 

 is in health the increasing blush of red, and the general and uniform painting 

 of the membrane, betokening some excitement of the system the streaked 

 appearance when inflammation is threatening or commencing the intensely 

 florid red of inflammation becoming acute the starting of the vessels from 

 their gossamer coat, and their seeming to run bare over the membrane, when 

 the inflammation is at the highest the pale ground with patches of vivid red, 



