2 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



and exhausted. The disease may also be excited by the accidental intro- 

 duction of medicinal agents into the air -passages while administering 

 draughts, exposure to easterly or north-easterly winds after exertion or 

 fatigue, or it may complicate an attack of influenza or strangles, or arise 

 out of an extension of inflammation from the larynx. 



Symptoms. — As a rule, but with notable exceptions, bronchitis com- 

 mences with shivering and the symptoms of a common cold ; the first thing 

 noted may be a cough and a rattling sound in breathing that in very 

 marked cases can be heard at some distance. The breathing is somewhat 

 quickened, the temperature raised, the appetite indifferent, and a general 

 listlessness is observed as well as disinclination to movement. The pulse 

 is increased in number and diminished in force, the ears and legs vary in 

 temperature, being sometimes cold, sometimes warm. Thirst, too, is often 

 noticed in the commencement of the disease. With the progress of the 

 malady the cough occurs in paroxysms at frequent short intervals, and gi^-es 

 rise to very great distress. When the larger bronchi are chiefly affected it 

 is louder and harsher than is the case when the small ramifications of the 

 tubes become involved. Auscultation is here of much assistance, as by 

 placing the ear on the chest at various points the peculiar sounds emitted 

 will afford information as to the state and progress of the disease. Where 

 the large bronchi are only or chiefly affected, a coarse, rough, or rattling 

 sound will be heard plainly in the front and upper part of the chest; but 

 if the smaller tubes are affected it may also be detected in a modified form 

 by listening behind the shoulder-blade. Here the sound emitted is harsh 

 as compared with normal breathing, and mixed up with it is a coarse 

 or fine crepitation or crackling. The loud, harsh cough presently gives 

 way to a softer one, attended with more or less copious expectoration of 

 mucus, which varies considerably in thickness and tenacity. In these 

 circumstances the chest sounds are quite altered, and the ear detects 

 bubbling and wheezing in the tubes as the air passes through the accumu- 

 lated matter within them. The patient's prospects of recovery would 

 appear to depend largely upon the viscidity or otherwise of this matter and 

 its possibility of removal. 



Treatment. — It is important that remedial measures should be applied 

 early, but too often the disease has gained a firm hold of the animal before 

 professional assistance is called in or the gravity of the case is recognized. 

 The severity of an attack may be mitigated by bold doses of anodynes, as 

 chloral and iodide of potassium, with stimulants; but the disease, when 

 fully established, cannot be cut short l)y any drastic measures, and the 

 symptoms must be combated, the animal's strength maintained, and his 

 general comfort attended to. The temperature of the stable should be 



