LUNG FEVER. 23 



the lungs are the result of bad management or improper expos- 

 ure. If the horse has taken catarrh or common cold, very little 

 over-exertion, either in riding or driving, and allowing the horse 

 to suddenly cool, will cause inflammation of the lungs. A sudden 

 change from heat to cold, or from cold to heat, may produce it. 

 Riding or driving against a cold, raw wind, or through deep wa- 

 ter, when the horse is warm, or any thing that will stop the free 

 perspiration through the skin, may produce an attack of pneumo- 

 nia. But nothing is so frequently the cause, perhaps, as allowing 

 the horse to stand in a close, illy- ventilated stable, in which the 

 dung is suffered to remain, and the urine stand in puddles. 

 From the filth, dung, and urine, thus allowed to accumulate, ir- 

 ritating gases of ammonia or hartshorn are constantly rising, 

 and, coming in contact with the delicate membrane lining the 

 millions of little air-cells in the lungs, irritate them, and finally 

 produce true inflammation of the lungs, or leave the horse in a 

 condition to take it on the slightest exposure to cold. 



Fat horses, and especially if not much exercised or worked, 

 are more apt to take fever than those in lower condition. 



Treatment. — The treatment in this disease .should be prompt 

 and energetic. This is one of those diseases of the horse which 

 most certainly require bleeding. But some are of the opinion 

 that nauseating treatment will answer as well. There is one 

 great advantage in bleeding : it gives immediate relief; there is 

 no time lost in waiting for its action ; and time, in lung fever, 

 is of great value. The treatment should be commenced by 

 bleeding from the neck. The opening should be large, so as to 

 permit the blood to flow in a full stream. The finger should 

 be on the pulse, so as to mark the effect produced. As soon 

 as the pulse becomes full and soft, the bleeding has gone 

 far enough. It will generally require about eight quarts to 

 effect the object. Six quarts taken rapidly will have a better 

 effect than ten taken slowly. Hence the necessity of having 

 the opening of the vein made large. 



