HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



8r 



resemblance to that sound than to roar- 

 ing, and the name may well be retained 

 as descriptive of it. Whistlers are always 

 in such a state of confirmed disease, that 

 treatment is out of the question — indeed, 

 they can only be put to the very slowest 

 kind of work. 



Wheezing is indicative of a contracted 

 condition of the bronchial tubes, which 

 is sometimes of a spasmodic nature, and 

 at others is only brought on during oc- 

 casional attacks after exposure to cold. 

 The treatment should be that recommend- 

 ed for chronic bronchitis, which is the 

 nature of the disease producing these 

 symptoms. 



Trumpeting is not very well defined 

 by veterinary writers, and we confess that 

 we have never heard any horse make a 

 noise which could be compared to the 

 trumpet, or to the note of the elephant so 

 called. 



The question relating to the hereditary 

 nature of roaring is one which demands 

 the most careful examination before a re- 

 liable answer can be given to it. It would 

 be necessary to select at random a num- 

 ber of roaring sires and dams, and com- 

 pare their stock with that of an equal 

 proportion of sound animals, which would 

 be a Herculean task, beyond the power 

 of any private individual. Nothing short 

 of this could possibly settle the dispute; 

 but, as far as opinion goes, it may be as- 

 sumed that there are strong authorities 

 against the hereditary nature of the dis- 

 eases which produce roaring. That it is 

 often the result of ordinary inflammation, 

 which in itself can scarcely be considered 

 hereditary, is plain enough; and that it is 

 also produced by mismanagement in tight- 

 reining is also admitted, which latter kind 

 can scarcely be supposed to be handed 

 down from sire to son; but that it is safer, 

 when practicable, to avoid parents with 

 any disease whatever, is patent to all. 



HORSE, Pneumonia and Congestion 

 of the Lungs in. — The theoretical defi- 

 nition of pneumonia is that it consists of 

 inflammation of the parenchyma of the 

 lungs, independently both of the mucous 

 lining to the air passages, and of the 

 serous covering of the whole mass. The 

 mucous membrane ceases abruptly at 

 the terminations of the bronchial subdi- 

 visions, and consequently the air cells are 

 not lined with a continuation from it. 



Hence there is an extensive cellulo-fibrous 

 area, which may be the subject of inflam- 

 mation, without implicating the mucous 

 surface. Until within the last fifteen or 

 twenty years, it was commonly supposed 

 that the air cells were all lined by mucous 

 membrane, and that the parenchyma was 

 confined to an almost infinitesimally thin 

 structure, filling up its interstices ; but the 

 microscope has revealed the true struc- 

 ture of the lungs, and has shown that 

 there is a well-founded distinction be- 

 tween bronchitis and pneumonia, upon 

 the ground of anatomy, as well as obser- 

 vation. Still, it cannot be denied that 

 the one seldom exists to any great extent, 

 or for any long period, without involving 

 the adjacent tissue; and broncho-pneu- 

 monia as well as pleuro-pneumonia are as 

 common as the pure disease. 



Pneumonia, or peripneumony, must 

 be examined, with a view, first, to its in- 

 tensity, whether acute or sub-acute ; and 

 secondly, as to its effects, which may be • 

 of little consequence, or they may be sa» 

 serious as to completely destroy the sub- 

 sequent usefulness of the patient. It is- 

 not, therefore, alone necessary to provide 

 against death by the treatment adopted, 

 but due care must also be taken that the - 

 tissue of the lungs is not disorganized by 

 a deposition of lymph, or of matter, so-' 

 as to lead, in the one case, to a consoli- 

 dation of the air cells, and, in the other, 

 to the formation of a large abscess, and { 

 consequent destruction of substance. The 

 former is a very common sequel of pneu- 

 monia; and probably there are few at- 

 tacks of it without being followed by a 

 greater or less degree of hepatization, by 

 which term the deposit of lymph is known, 

 from its causing the lungs to assume the - 

 texture of liver. In very severe cases, 

 gangrene of the lungs is induced; but as- 

 death almost always speedily follows this 

 condition, it is not necessary to consider 

 it, excepting as bearing upon the fatal re- 

 sults. 



The cause of pneumonia may be over- 

 exertion, as in the hunting-field, especially 

 in an unprepared horse ; or it may come- 

 on as a primary disease after exposure to> 

 cold ; or it may follow upon bronchitis 

 when neglected and allowed to run on 

 without check. In the two first cases it 

 appears to be produced by the great con- 

 | gestion of blood which takes place in the 



