XXVI.— PNEUMONIA IN THE HORSE. 



At the present time we have in hospital three horses which have 

 recently been attacked with pneumonia, affording us a particularly 

 favourable opportunity for studying the disease. You have closely 

 examined all three, and have seen that as regards the symptoms and 

 course of the disease the}- present notable differences. 



The first of these patients, a nine-year-old gelding, entered on the 

 14th April suffering from pneumonia of three days' standing. It was 

 very dull, but still took note of what went on around it. The conjunc- 

 tivae were saffron -yellow in colour, the respiration and circulation 

 accelerated, the pulse strong and regular. From both nostrils, and 

 especially from the right, a little yellowish rusty discharge escaped. 

 Percussion showed partial dulness in the lower third of the right lung. 

 On auscultation a moist crepitant rale was heard ; the temperature was 

 40° C. (104° F.). 



We were informed that on the previous day the animal was seen to 

 be ill. It had been at work from morning till night, and had been 

 caught in several showers of rain. When placed in a box after exa- 

 mination the patient took some mash, ha}' tea, and a few oats. Treat- 

 ment was as follows : — A mustard plaster was applied to the lower half 

 of the chest, six ounces of '8 per cent, salt solution were subcutane- 

 ously injected, and one and a half ounces of bicarbonate of soda were 

 given internally. Food consisted of six quarts of milk per day, bran 

 mashes, hay tea, and chilled water ad libitum. 



Next day the general condition remained practically unaltered. The 

 respiration, circulation, and temperature had undergone no marked 

 change. On auscultation a tubal sound was heard opposite the centre 

 of the left lobe. In the upper third of this lobe, and throughout the 

 right lobe, the vesicular murmur was exaggerated. 



On the following day the animal appeared distinctly better and 

 brighter. I drew your attention to the tubal sound, which, being heard 

 in the centre of an otherwise absolute!}' silent area, was unusualh' well 

 defined. The appetite was good. The temperature had fallen half a 

 degree (C). 



