192 INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 



treraities, we must continue to adminisier our sedative medicines 

 without one grain ol" a carminative or a tonic ; and the return of 

 the deathy-cold foot will be a signal for farther depletion. 

 * The commencement of the state of convalescence requires the 

 same guarded practice, as in bronchitis. As many horses arc lost 

 by impatience now, as by want of decision at first. If we have 

 Bubdued the disease, we should let well alone. We should guard 

 against the return of the foe by the continued administration of 

 our sedatives in smaller quantities ; but give no tonics unless de 

 bility is rapidly succeeding. When we have apparently weath- 

 ered the storm, we must still be cautious ; we must consider the 

 nature and the seat of the disease, and the predisposition to re- 

 turning inflammation. If the season will permit, two or three 

 months' run at grass should succeed our medical treatment ; but 

 if this is impracticable, we must put off the period of active work 

 as long as it can be delayed, and even after that permit the horse 

 to return as gradually as may be to his usual employment and 

 food.* 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — The diseases of the lungs liave been recently 

 carefully investigated, and we are enabled *•<■' detect three important vai-ie 

 ties in the inflammatory affections of the lungs and chest, viz., congestive iu- 

 fiam-.nation of the lungs, or pulmonary apoplexy — piieuinonia, or true inflam- 

 mation of the lungs — and pleurisy, or pleuritis. The first consists in the 

 distention of the small vessels of the lungs with dark venous blood, and is 

 generally produced by over-exertion, particularly if the animal, when at 

 tacked, is not in proper condition for work. The symptoms are rapid breath 

 ing, cold extremities, and short duration of the disease, ending either in death 

 or recovery. When death supervenes, tlie lungs are black, as stated in the 

 text. With regard to treatment, bleeding should be adopted if the pulse is 

 disthict as well as rapid ; if not, a diffusible stimulant should first be given 

 and bleeding should follow. 



True pneumonia is longer in its duration, but the symptoms are often ob 

 scure at first. There is considerable distress, but there does not appear to 

 be any active pain ; and in this respect it may generally be distinguished 

 from pleurisy. The pulse is full, strong, and rapid — pain, sometimes acute 

 but varying from time to time, and the blood presenting a considerable 

 quantity of buff, or fibrine. The tendencies of the disease are either the 

 deposition of water in the chest, or else fibrous flakes, and sometimes both 

 conjoined. 



Sometimes pneumonia and pleurisy are combined together, causing pleuro- 

 mieumonia, and then the danger is increased at the same time, as the symp- 

 toms are rendered more obscure. 



Blood-letting is one of the first of our remedial measures for these dis- 

 eases, but is called for in a more marked degree in pleurisy than in pneu- 

 nonia. The pulse, however, in both cases must be our guide as to the quan- 

 tity to be taken ; and, as stated in the text, a decided effect should be ob- 

 tained. Repetition of bleeding, too, may be had recourse to with greater 

 freedom, in pleurisy than in pneumonia. In the latter disease, we must take 

 care tnat we do not shipwreck the vital powers by repeated and too copious 

 bleeding, or mistake the effects produced by bleeding for the symptoms 

 of the disease itself It is only by the conjoint aids of science and experi 



