DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 115 



quent, beating from fifty or sixty to eijihty or more a minute. Thei-e 

 is usually a dry cough from the beginning, which, however, changes 

 in character as the disease advances; for instance, it may become 

 moist, or if pleurisy sets in, the cough will be peculiar to the latter 

 affection; that is, cut short in the endeavor to suppress it. In some 

 cases the discharge from the nostrils is tinged with blood, while in 

 other cases it has the appearance of muco-i)Us. The appetite is lost 

 to a greater or less extent, but the desire for water is increased, par- 

 ticularly during the onset of the fever. The meml)rane within tlu' 

 nostrils is red and at first dry, but sooner or later becomes moist. The 

 legs are cold. The bowels are more or less constipated, and what 

 dung is passed is uually covered with a slimy mucus. The urine is 

 passed in smaller quantities than usual and is of a darker color. 



The animal prefers to have the head where the freshest air can be 

 obtained. "When afl'eoted with pneumonia a horse does not lie down, 

 but persists in standing from the beginning of the attack. If pneu- 

 monia is complicated with pleurisy, however, the horse may appear 

 restless and lie down for a few moments to gain lelief from the 

 pleuritic pains, but he soon rises. In pneumonia the breathing is 

 rapid and difficult, but when the pneumonia is complicated with 

 jileurisy the ribs are kept as still as possible and the breathing is 

 abdominal; that is, the abdominal muscles are now made to do as 

 much of the work as they can perform. If pleurisy is not present 

 there is little pain. To the ordinary observer the animal may not 

 appear dangerously ill, as he does not show the seriousness of the 

 ailment by violence, as in colic, but a careful observer will discover 

 at a glance that the trouble is something more serious than a cold. 

 By percussion it will be shown that some portions of the chest are 

 less resonant than in health, indicating exclusion of air. If the air 

 is wholly excluded the percussion is (juite dull, like that elicited by 

 percussion over the thigh. 



r>y auscultation important information may be gained. AVlien the 

 ear is placed against the chest of a healthy horse, the resi)irat()ry 

 murmin- is heard uiore or less distinctly, according to the part of the 

 chest that is l)eneath the ear. In the very first stage of pneuujonia 

 this murmur is louder and hoarser; also, there is a fine, crackling 

 sound something similar to that produced when salt is thrown in a 

 fire. After the atl'ected part becomes solid there is an absence of 

 sound over that particular part. After absorption begins one may 

 again hear sounds that are of a moie or less uioist character and 

 resemble bul)bling or gurgling, which gradually chanire mitil the 

 natural sound is heard announcing return to health. 



AMien a fatal termination is ai>|>roaching all the symptoms l>e- 

 come intensified. The breathing becomes still more raj)id and diffi- 

 cult; the flanks heave; the animal stares wildly about as if seeking 



