CONSUMPTION. 199 



PHTHISIS PULMONALIS, OR CONSUMPTION. 



This fatal complaint is usually connected with, or the conse- 

 quence ot", pneumonia or pleurisy, and especially in horses of a 

 peculiar formation or temperament. 



If a narrow-chested, flat-sided horse is attacked by inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs, or severe catarrhal fever, experience tells us 

 that we shall have more difficulty in subduing the disease in him, 

 than in one deeper in the girth or rounder in the chest. 



When this disease has been properly treated, and apparently 

 subdued, this horse cannot be quickly and summarily dismissed to 

 his work. He is sadly emaciated — he long continues so — his coat 

 stares — his skin clings to his ribs — his belly is tucked up, notwith- 

 standing that he may have plenty of mashes, and carrots, and 

 green meat, and medicine — his former gaiety and spirit do not re- 

 turn, or if he is willing to work he is easily tired, sweating on the 

 least exertion, and the sweat most profuse about the chest and 

 sides — his appetite is not restored, or, perhaps, never has been 

 good, and the slightest exertion puts him completely off his feet. 

 "We observe him more attentively, and, even as he stands quiet 

 in his stall, the flanks heave a little more laboriously than they 

 should dp, and that heaving is painfully quickened when sudden 

 exertion is required. He coughs sorely, and discharges from the 

 nose a mucus tinged with blood, or a fluid decidedly purulent — 

 the breath becomes offensive — the pulse is always above 40, and 

 strangely increased by the slightest exertion. 



When many of these symptoms are developed, the animal will 

 exhibit considerable pain on being gently struck on some part of 

 the chest ; the cough then becomes more frequent and painful ; 

 the discharge from the nose more abundant and fetid, and the 

 emaciation and consequent debihty more rapid, until death closes 

 the scene. 



The lesions that are presented after death are very uncertain 

 Generally there are tubercles ; sometimes very minute, at other 

 times large in size. They are in different states of softening, and 

 some of them have burst into the bronchial passages, and exhibit 

 abscesses of enormous bulk. Other portions of the lungs are 

 shrunk, flaccid, indurated or hepatized, and of a pale or red-brown 

 color ; and there are occasional adhesions between the lungs and 

 the sides of the chest. 



There is some difficulty in deciding whether consumption is 

 hereditary ; but those conformations which lead to this disease 

 are hereditary, and thus far the disease is. 



If the horse is not very bad, and it is spring of the year, a run 

 at grass may be tried. But the apparent amelioration is often 

 transient. 



