TREATMENT. 537 



we often have paroxysms of pain simulating abdominal dis- 

 turbance ; in pneumonia and inflammation of the mucous 

 membrane of tlie respiratory organs this is not at all common. 



Treatment. — In the management of pleurisy, both hygieni- 

 cally and therapeutically, very much the same indications are 

 to be observed as in those cases where Ave believe the sub- 

 stance proper of the lungs is specially the seat of the in- 

 flammation. When we have regard to the character of the 

 pulse, its greater resistance and more incompressible nature, 

 together with the presence of acute pain, it is not difficult 

 to understand why blood-letting as a proper and commend- 

 able measure in the active hypera3mic stage of pleurisy has 

 more steadily held its position, and been more extensively 

 employed by even careful practitioners, than in the condition 

 of pneumonia. 



Although it would appear that the employment of venesec- 

 tion in no stage of either pleurisy or pneumonia is capable of 

 arrestuig the disease, there is at least this to be said for it, viz., 

 that when employed in the very early stages of pleurisy, while 

 the pulse is yet firm and exudation hardly commenced, it has 

 the effect, when carried to the extent of six or eight quarts, 

 of conferring marked and immediate relief 



It must be remembered, however, that its employment, even 

 to a moderate extent and in the very early stages, is only 

 admissible when the affection is of a sthenic type, and appear- 

 ing in an animal in a vigorous habit of body, apparently origi- 

 nating idiopathically, and not associated with any constitu- 

 tional disease, and where no adverse and depressing influences 

 are in operation. With these limitations, experience seems to 

 warrant its employment, and to hold out reasonable expecta- 

 tion of favourable results. 



In all cases of pleurisy, of whatever character, it is well to 

 give early attention to the locating of the animal. A good 

 comfortable box is to be preferred to confinement in a stall, 

 while a sufficiency of body-clothing is conducive to the 

 equalization of temperature and the normal action of the 

 skin. The moderation of the excessive arterial action, and 

 lowering of the temperature, seem most readily and advan- 

 tageously accomplished by the regular and repeated adminis- 

 tration of such saline febrifuges as have already been recom- 



