I 



INFLUENZA. 239 



On account of this tendency to oedema and outpouring of serum, 

 roaring and thick wind are frequent al'ter-consequences of influenza. 

 We are never certain that a liorse, which has been affected with this 

 disease, is not a roarer until we have tested his wind. 



The general symptoms attending these pulmonary complications and 

 those indicating relief or increase, are the same as those already de- 

 scribed in the Chapter on Diseases of the Organs of Respiration, No. 22. 

 The treatment is also the same, but the reader must bear in mind that 

 the patient is already from other causes in a very debilitated state, and 

 that sedative medicine is inadmissible. 



The patient is probably too weak for treatment. He will do better 

 without it. In plain word? — don't fidget him. 



If the legs are cold or unequal in temperature, as is usually the case, 

 friction and woollen bandages and in some cases stimulating liniments 

 are useful. The temperature of the legs and body is very changeable 

 in this disease. 



479. The Alimentary Canal. 



The Alimentary Canal is always more or less involved in Influenza. 

 In the early stage, disease of the mucous membrane is indicated by con- 

 stipation of the bowels and a peculiar dry state of the dung pellets, 

 which however in a short time become glazed on their surfaces and par- 

 tially covered with mucus. This latter sign indicates that the blood- 

 vessels of the intestine are in an inflamed condition, and it warns us of 

 the danger of administering strong purgatives. If this condition of the 

 blood-vessels increases, it is probable that dysentery may supervene. 



In this stage the pulse becomes small and very quick, and so feeble 

 that the slightest pressure on the artery seems to extinguish it. The 

 patient will wander round his box and will often exhibit signs of abdo- 

 minal pain. Death generally follows these latter symptoms. 



480. Bowels. 



In cases, where the Bowels are especially implicated, the evacuations 

 will probably be offensive and dark coloured, or they may be mixed ^^ith 

 blood, and after death blood may be found outpoured. The contents of 

 the intestines, even though the patient may have passed no dung, may 

 be found in a fluid state, and food and medicine balls, which have been 

 taken some days previously, will often be found on post-mortem exami- 

 nation undissolved in the stomach. These symptoms show the extent to 

 which nervous paralysis has affected the system. 



481. The Kidneys. 



The functions of the Kidneys, as indicated by variations in the quan- 

 tity as well as in the quality of the urine voided during the different 

 stages of the disease, are always more or less affected. At first the 

 secretion is scanty, in a short time it becomes high coloured and gradu- 



