272 PNEUMONIA. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 



opened, and the mystery was all unravelled. The thorax was deluged with 

 pus, and there were then in the lungs several large abscesses, one of which con- 

 tained at least a quart of pus. The mare had not shown a symptom of chest 

 affection, and the gentleman to whom she belonged declared that he had believed 

 her to be as sound as any horse he had in his possession. 



The resolution or gradual abatement of inflammation is the termination most 

 to be desired in this state of disease, for then the engorgement of the vessels 

 will gradually cease, and the thickening of the membrane and the interstitial 

 deposit be taken up, and the effusion into the cells likewise absorbed, and the 

 lungs will gradually resume their former cellular texture, yet not perfectly ; for 

 there will be some induration, slight but general ; or some more perfect indura- 

 tion of certain parts ; or the rupture of some of the air-cells ; or an irritability of 

 membrane predisposing to renewed inflammation. The horse will not always 

 be as useful as before ; there will be chronic cough, thick wind, broken wind ; 

 but these merit distinct consideration ; and, for the present, we proceed to the 

 treatment of pneumonia. 



There is inflammation of that organ through which all the blood in the 

 frame passes that organ most of all subject to congestion. Then nothing 

 can be so important as to lessen the quantity of blood which the heart is 

 endeavouring to force through the minute vessels of the lungs, distended, 

 irritated, breaking. Immediate recourse must be had to the lancet, and the 

 stream of blood must be suffered to flow on until the pulse falters, and the 

 animal bears heavy upon the pail. This blood must be extracted as quickly 

 ac possible, and the lancet should be broad-shouldered, and the orifice large. 

 This is the secret of treating inflammation of a vital organ. The disease is 

 weakened or destroyed without permanently impairing the strength of the 

 patient ; whereas by small bleedings, and with a small stream, the strength of 

 the patient is sapped, while the disease remains untouched. 



Next comes purging, if we dared ; for by having recourse to it some cause of 

 excitement would be got rid of, the circulating fluid would be lessened, and a 

 new determination of the vital current produced ; but experience teaches, that 

 in pneumonia there is so much sympathy with the abdominal viscera, there is 

 such a fatal tendency in the inflammation to spread over every mucous mem- 

 brane, that purging is almost to a certainty followed by inflammation, and 

 that inflammation bids defiance to every attempt to arrest it. It may be 

 said with perfect confidence that, in the majority of cases, a physic ball would 

 be a dose of poison to a horse labouring under pneumonia. 



May we not relax the bowels? Yes, if we can stop there. We may, after 

 the inflammation has evidently a little subsided, venture upon, yet very 

 cautiously, small doses of aloes in our fever medicine, and we may quicken their 

 operation by frequent injections of warm soap and water ; omitting the purga- 

 tive, however, the moment the fseces are becoming pultaceous. We must, 

 however, be assured that the inflammation is subsiding, and there must be con- 

 siderable constipation, or the purgative had better be let alone. 



If we must not give physic, we must endeavour to find some other auxiliary 

 to the bleeding, and we have it in the compound of digitalis-) nitre, and emetic 

 tartar, which has been so often recommended. 



The greatest care should be taken of the patient labouring under this com- 

 plaint. His legs should be well hand-rubbed, in order to restore, if possible, the 

 circulation to the extremities. Comfortable flannel rollers should encase the 

 legs from the foot to the knee. He should be covered up warm. There can- 

 not be a doubt about this. As for air, in warm weather he cannot have too 

 much. In cold weather his box must be airy, but not chilly. We want to 

 determine the blood to the extremities and the skin, but not all the clothing in 



