— 284 — 



and carries the atmospnere to and from the lungs. It is tne seat ot 

 disease, and is affected more or less in all cases of colds and inflam- 

 mations, whether of the lungs or the membranes — the pleura. 



Bronchitis. — Inflammation of the Air Passages or the 

 Parts Enumerated Above. — This is a very common disease 

 among horses, and is confounded by most horse doctors with 

 inflammation of the lungs, distempers, and colds ; whereas, it is 

 distinguished from inflammation of the lungs by its seat, and 

 from the others by as great a dissimilarity. 



Bronchitis occurs in various degrees of intensity, and should at 

 least be described under two heads, notwithstanding the one 

 distinction may run, as it does sometimes, into the other. 



1. Acute Bronchitis. — Symptoms. Ushered in by a chill, fever, 

 harsh or painful cough, loss of appetite, heaving at the flanks, 

 mouth hot and dry. In a day or so, a discharge of pus or matter 

 will be observed from one or both nostrils. 



If bleeding, or other severe measures be used, the horse will as- 

 suredly die, not so much from the disease, but from maltreatment. 

 Better, in a disease of this kind, let nature have her way, and give 

 the horse a chance for his life ; for in the other case, he has ab- 

 solutely none whatever. 



Treatment First, the horse should be treated as for fever. Place 

 the horse in an open or airy place, embraced by the word " com- 

 fortable." Obviously it would not be comfortable to place a sick 

 horse in an open place, with the thermometer below zero. In 

 July or August it will not be necessary to burden the animal with 

 blankets. 



Give him from fifteen to twenty drops of the tincture of aconite 

 root every four hours, till six doses are taken. This will relieve 

 the fever, breathing, and the hot and dry mouth. Give plenty of 

 cold water to drink, for pain and fever require plenty of fluid, as 

 all the secretions are dried up. Let the animal have a little grass, 

 if it can be got ; this will relax the bowels, and cool the stomach. 

 On the second day, the following medicines may be given, that is, 

 if they be necessary : Powdered gentian root, two ounces ; pow- 

 dered nux vomica, one ounce. Mix, and divide into six powders, 

 and give one powder morning, noon and night. These medicines 

 will prevent debility and depression, and the pouring out of fluid 



