216 CHAPTER 22. 



PLEUKITIS OK PLEURISY. 



435. Nature and seat of Pleurisy. 



Pleuritis or Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleurae or delicate serous 

 membrane which forms the covering of the lungs and also lines the cavity 

 of the chest. The disease is generally brought on by the same causes 

 as those which produce other diseases of the respiratory system, and 

 which have been pretty fully detailed above ; but sometimes it is occa- 

 sioned by some abnormal violence to the chest or by its being punctured. 

 In these latter cases the disease will be confined to one side only. 



436. Symptoms. 



A premonitory symptom of approaching disease is given by loss of 

 appetite, by quick short respiration and a quickened pulse ; but the first 

 decided symptom of affection of the pleurae is usually the emission of a 

 sharp clear grunt, when the animal is disturbed or turned round in his 

 stall, or on the application of pressure to his side. The pain, of which 

 this grunt is the expression, is due to the inelastic nature of the pleurae, 

 which on this account become under inflammation exceedingly sensitive 

 of any motion. If pressure be applied to the intercostal spaces, it causes 

 pain and often produces the peculiar grunt. The pulse is at first about 

 sixty, but soon becomes hard and wiry, and gradually increases to eighty 

 and in bad cases to a hundred beats in the minute or even higher ; but 

 it is not so full and oppressed as in pneumonia. On account of the pain 

 in the pleurae the patient frequently looks round to his sides. Cough is 

 generally present, but it is always of a short suppressed character, 

 because the act of coughing causes pain. The nostrils are dilated to aid 

 the respiration. 



The respiration is short and quick, because the horse endeavours to 

 supply his lungs with air with as little expansion of the chest as possible. 

 He is also very restless, and looks round to his sides with an anxious eye 

 of pain, and frequently paws the ground with his foot. He does not lie 

 down, but often attempts to do so. There are often patches of sweat on 

 the skin over the region of the disease, and the muscles of the part are 

 affected with twitchings. The membrane of the nostrils is not much 

 altered in colour at first, but as the disease progresses, it becomes of a 

 deep red colour. 



A further marked sign of the disease is given by a regular elevated 

 line or ridge along the lower border of the ribs from the point of the hip 

 to the lower part of the sternum, caused by the animal employing the 

 muscles of the abdomen instead of those of the ribs to expel the air. The 

 temperature in this disease, like that of pneumonia, rapidly becomes 

 increased. 



If the ear be now applied to the sides of the chest, a friction sound, 

 such as that caused by gently rubbing the dry hands together, may be at 



