172 INFLAMMATION OF THE WINDPIPE ROARING. 



Many of the coughs that are most troublesome are to be traced 

 to this source. 



In violent cases laryngitis terminates in suffocation ; in others, 

 in thick wind or in roaring. Occasionally it is necessary to have 

 recourse to the operation of tracheotomy. 



In acute laryngitis the treatment to be pursued is sufficiently 

 plain. The blood must be abstracted, and that from the jugu- 

 lar vein, for there will then be the combined advantage of gen- 

 eral and local bleeding. The blood must be somewhat copious- 

 ly withdrawn, depending on the degree of inflammation — the 

 practitioner never for a moment forgetting that he has to do 

 with inflammation of a mucous membrane, and that what he 

 does he must do quickly. He will have lost the opportunity of 

 struggling successfully with the disease when it has altered its 

 character and debility has succeeded. The cases must be few 

 and far between when the surgeon makes up his mind to any 

 determinate quantity of blood, and leaves his assistant or his 

 groom to abstract it ; he must himself bleed, and until the pulse 

 flutters or the constitution is evidently affected. 



Next must be given the fever medicine already recommended ; 

 the digitalis, nitre, and emetic tartar, with aloes. Aloes may 

 here be safely given, because the chest is not yet implicated. To 

 this must be added, and immediately, a blister, and a sharp one. 

 The surgeon is sure of the part, and he can bring his counter- 

 irritant almost into contact with it. 



INFLAMMATION^ OF THE TRACHEA. 



Inflammation of the membrane of the larynx, and especially 

 when it has run on to ulceration, may rapidly spread, and in- 

 volve the greater part or the whole of the lining membrane of 

 the trachea. A blister must reach as low as the rattling sound 

 can be detected, and somewhat beyond this. The fever medi- 

 cines must be administered in somewhat increased doses ; and the 

 bleeding must be repeated, if the state of the pulse does not in- 

 dicate the contrary. 



ROARING. 



The present will be the proper place to speak of that singul ar 

 impairment of the respiratory function recognized by this name 

 It is an unnatural, loud, grunting sound made by the animal in 

 the act of breathing, when in quick action or on any sudden, ex- 

 ertion. On carefully listening to the sound, it will appear that 

 the roaring is produced in the act of inspiration, and not in that 



