INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. ISa 



Although the life of tlie horse may be saved, the consequen 'es of ir.flaivi. 

 Illation of the lungs may often materially lessen, or even destroy the useful 

 ness of the animal. As in many e.xternal inflammations considerable 

 thickening of the part long remains, so a deposit of the coagulable portion 

 of the blood may be left in the substance of the lungs, occupying the place of 

 <nany of the air-cells, and preventing the contraction and closing of others. 

 This produces the peculiarity of breathing, almost incompatible with speed 

 or continuance, called thick wind; and frequently precedes broken wind, 

 when, from the violent action of the lungs, and that action thus impeded by 

 the obstruction we have described, some of the air-cells become ruptured. 

 Too frequently, considerable irritability remains in the membrane lining 

 the air-cells, and in other portions of the air-passages, and a cough is 

 establislied, which, from its continuance, and the difficulty of its removal, 

 is called chronic cough. We have already considered inflammation of the 

 lungs as one of the causes of roaring. 



The treatment of inflammation of the lungs must evidently be of the 

 most decisive kind. We have to struggle with a disease intense in its charac- 

 ter, and we must attempt radically to cure, and not merely to palliate it. We 

 must look to the future usefulness of the horse, and not to the possibility 

 of his being enabled to drag on an existence almost uncomfortable to him- 

 self. Supposing the attack to have just commenced, the horse should be 

 bled, not only until the pulse begins to rise, but until it afterwards begins to 

 flutter or to stop, or the animal is evidently faint. The effect of the bleed- 

 ing, and not the quantity of blood taken, should be regarded ; for the 

 inflammation being subdued, the lost blood will soon be supplied again. 

 This is one of the cases in which it is absolutely necessary that the sur. 

 geon or owner, should stand by with his finger on the pulse, and mark the 

 etTect that is produced. If, six hours afterwards, the horse continues to 

 stand stiff, and heaves as quickly and laboriously as before, and the legs 

 are as intensely cold, and the membrane of the nose as red, the bleeding 

 should be repeated, until the same effect again follows. In the majority 

 of cases inflammation will be now subdued. A third bleeding may, how- 

 ever, sometimes be necessary, but must not be carried to the same extent, 

 for it is possible, by too great evacuation of blood, to subdue not merely 

 tlie disease, but the powers of nature. If, after this, the legs become cold,, 

 and the heaving returns, and the membrane of the nose reddens, and the 

 horse persists in standing, bleedings to the extent of two or three quarts 

 will be advisable, to prevent the re-establishment of the disease. In all these 

 bleedings, let not the necessity of a broad-shouldered fleam or lancet, 

 and a full stream of blood, be forgotten. These are circumstances of far 

 more importance than is generally imagined. The appearance of the 

 blood will be some guide in our treatment of the case. The thickness of 

 the adhesive, buffy, yellow-coloured coat, which in a few hours will appear 

 on it, will mark with some degree of accuracy the extent of the inflam- 

 mation; but let it be remembered that only which existed at the time of 

 bleeding. Not regardless of the appearance of the blood, but not putting 

 loo much faith in it, we must look to the horse to determine how far thai 

 inflammation may have been diminished, or a repetition of the bleeding be 

 necessary. 



W^hen the bleeding has evidently taken effect, we must consider by what 

 means we may further abate, or prevent the return of the inflammation. 

 We should blister the whole of the brisket, and the sides, as iiigh up as the 

 elbows. Blisters are far preferable to rowels. They act on a ino -e exten- 

 sive surface; they produce a great deal more inflammation ; and they arp 

 speedier in their action. 

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