124 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



act of breathing — but the abdomen works more than natural; both 

 the fore feet and elbows may be turned out; during the onset of the 

 attack the animal may be restless and act as if he had a slight colic; 

 he may even lie down, but does not remain long down, for when he 

 finds no relief he soon gets up. After effusion begins these signs of 

 restlessness disappear. Every movement of the chest causes pain; 

 therefore the cough is peculiar ; it is short and suppressed and comes 

 as near being no cough as the animal can make it in his desire to 

 suppress it. The breathing is hurried, the mouth is hot, the tem- 

 perature being elevated from 102° or 103° to 105° F. Sjanptoms 

 that usually accompany fever are present, such as costiveness, scanty, 

 dark-colored urine, etc. The pulse is frequent, perhaps TO or more 

 a minute, and is hard and wiry. The legs and ears are cold. 



Percussion is of valuable service in this affection. After effusion 

 occurs the sound produced by percussing over the lower part of the 

 chest is dull. By striking different parts one may come to a spot of 

 greater or less extent where the blows cause much pain to be evinced. 

 The animal may grunt or groan every time it is struck. Another 

 method of detecting the affected part is to press the fingers between 

 the ribs, each space in succession, beginning behind the elbow, until 

 a place where the pressure causes more flinching than at any other 

 part is reached. Auscultation is also useful. In the first stage, when 

 the surfaces are dry and rough, one may hear, immediately under the 

 ear, a distinct sound very much like that produced by rubbing two 

 pieces of coarse paper together. No such friction sound occurs when 

 the membrane is healthy, as the natural moisture, heretofore men- 

 tioned, prevents the friction. In many cases this friction is so pro- 

 nounced that it may be felt by placing the hand over the affected 

 part. When the dry stage is succeeded by the exudation of fluid this 

 friction sound disappears. After the effusion into the cavity takes 

 place sometimes there is heard a tinkling or metallic sound, due to 

 dropping of the exudate from above into the collected fluid in the 

 bottom of the cavity, as the collected fluid more or less separates the 

 lung from the chest walls. 



Within two or three days the urgent symptoms may abate owing 

 to the exudation of the fluid and the subsidence of the pain. The 

 fluid mvLj now undergo absorption, and the case may terminate 

 favorably within a week or 10 days. 



If the quantity of the effusion is large its own volume retards the 

 process of absorption to a great extent, and consequently convales- 

 cence is delayed. In severe cases the pulse becomes more frequent, 

 the breathing more hurried and labored, the flanks work like bellows, 

 the nostrils flap, the eyes stare wildly, the countenance expresses 

 much anxiety, and general signs of dissolution are plain. After a 



