PLEURISY. 201 



much as possible, by the use of all the auxiliary muscles which 

 the animal can press into the service ; but it at length finishea 

 abruptly in a kind of spasm. This peculiarity of breathing, once 

 carefully observed, cannot be forgotten. The next character is 

 found in the tenderness of the sides vi^hen the costal pleura is 

 affected. This tenderness often exists to a degree scarcely credi- 

 ble. If the side is pressed upon, the horse will recede with a low 

 painful grunt ; he will tremble, and try to get out of the way 

 before the hand touches him again. Then comes another indi- 

 cation, both of pain and the region of that pain, — the intercos- 

 tal muscles, affected by the contiguous pleura, and in their turn 

 affecting the subcutaneous muscular expansion without — there 

 are twitchings of the skin on the side — corrugations (wrinldes) 

 — waves creeping over the skin. This is never seen in pneumonia. 

 There is, however, as we may expect, the same disinclination to 

 move, for every motion must give intense pain. 



The pulse should be anxiously studied. It presents a decided 

 difference of character from that of pneumonia. It is increased 

 in rapidity, but instead of being oppressed and sometimes almost 

 unappreciable, as in pneumonia, it is round, full, and strong. 

 Even at the last, when the strength of the constitution begins 

 to yield, the pulse is wiry, although small. 



The extremities are never deathly cold ; they may be cool, 

 they are oftener variable, and they sometimes present increased 

 heat. The body is far more liable to variations of temperature ; 

 and the cold and the hot fit more frequently succeed each other. 

 The mouth is not so hot as in pneumonia, and the breath is 

 rarely above its usual temperature. 



A difference of character in the two diseases is here particu- 

 larly evident on the membrane of the nose. Neither the crimson 

 nor the purple injection of pneumonia is seen on the lining of 

 the nose, but a somewhat darker, dingier hue. 



Both the pneumonic and pleuritic horse will look at his flanks, 

 thus pointing out the seat of disease and pain ; but the horse with 

 pneumonia will turn himself more slowly round, and long and 

 steadfastly gaze at his side, while the action of the horse with 

 pleurisy is more sudden, agitated, spasdomic. The countenance 

 of the one is that of settled distress ; the other brightens up occa- 

 sionally. The pang is severe, but it is transient, and there are 

 intervals of relief While neither will lie down or willingly 

 move, and the pneumonic horse stands fixed as a statue, the 

 pleuritic one shrinks, and crouches almost to falling. If he lies 

 down, it is on the affected side, when the disease is confined to 

 one side only. The head of the horse with inflammation of tlie 

 substance of the lungs, hangs heavily ; that of the other is 

 protruded. 



