ACUTE DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 223 



it becomes organised, consolidate and choke up a portion at least of the 

 air cells and passages, and render the animal unsound. Lymph may be 

 exuded even to such an extent as to cause suffocation. 



In Pleuro-pneumonia the exudation may take place either into the 

 substance of the lungs, consolidating their structure and causing them to 

 become hepatised; or between the pleurae of the lungs and ribs; or it 

 may affect both structures. 



In severe cases of Bronchitis lymph is sometimes exuded and deposited 

 in the bronchial tubes ; and if it becomes organised, it will produce dimi- 

 nution of those channels and the wind will be affected. 



In all the above cases the degree of permanent mischief will depend on 

 the length of time which the lymph remains in the structures affected 

 rather than the amount of the deposit. If the vital powers on the 

 termination of the acute attack are unable to take up and absorb the 

 lymph, it will become consolidated, and it will produce the mischievous 

 effects detailed above. If on the other hand by judicious treatment and 

 nursing Nature is given a fair chance, she will in favorable cases take up 

 the whole or a large portion of the lymph exuded. With a view of 

 stimulating the action of the absorbents small doses of one scruple of 

 iodide of potassium with ginger and gentian may be given with benefit 

 three times a day. Nothing answers better than a pint of good stout 

 daily. 



447. Suppuration and formation of Abscesses. 



In some cases, where the attack, whether arising from pneumonia or 

 pleuro-pneumonia, has been very intense, and especially where in addition 

 the patient has been unduly lowered, suppuration may take place and 

 abscesses will form in the lungs. The presence of an abscess, as soon as 

 it has opened into a bronchial tube, may be detected by those experienced 

 in auscultation on the application of the ear to the chest, either by a 

 rushing sound as the air rushes into the hollow space, or by the absence 

 of any sound of percolation of air through the part, when the abscess, as 

 is often the case, is filled with matter. Even beyond the parts imme- 

 diately affected and in fact destroyed by the abscesses, it is more than 

 probable that the whole structure of the lungs must be more or less 

 disorganised by the violence of an attack sufficient to induce suppuration. 



The formation of abscesses is, however, more easily known by foetor of 

 the breath and by the animal coughing up muco-purulent matter. 



448. Gangrene or Mortification. 



Gangrene or mortification may occur in any part of the structures 

 which have been subjected to disease. It is in plain language death of 

 the part, and the result is invariably fatal. 



449. After-treatment. 



From what has been stated in reference to the effusion of serum and 

 exudation of lymph, it will readily be seen that the maintenance of the 

 strength is the great object in the after-treatment. Good nursing, good 



