— - « — DISEASES 125 



most painful disease known as pleurisy. In this disease the lubricating 

 fluid previously mentioned disappears. The glistening surface of the mem- 

 brane becomes swollen and roughened, so that in breathing the part of the 

 membrane covering the lungs and the part reflected over the walls of the 

 chest rub together and make breathing a most painful process. This stage 

 lasts about twenty-four hours, and then the lubricating fluid that disappears 

 at the first sign of the disease begins to reappear in increased quantities 

 and there is a general effusion into the chest cavity on the affected side. 

 In some cases this effusion is so great as to almost or completely fill the 

 space formerly occupied by the lungs, and they are compressed into a small 

 mass and rendered entirely useless. In acute attacks of this disease that 

 terminate in recovery there is, in a few days, a reabsorption of this fluid, 

 and the pleura regains its normal condition. If the reabsorption of the 

 fluid in the cavity is slow or delayed and extends over a period of two or 

 three weeks the patient is left with what is known as chronic pleurisy. 



Symptoms: In some cases there is a soreness of the chest for two 

 or three days to which no attention has been paid; in other cases there is 

 a severe chill, accompanied by shivering and intense pain in breathing, so 

 that the animal does not completely fill the lungs, but takes short, quick, 

 catchy breaths. There is a cough and all the symptoms of fever, such as 

 restlessness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, watery eyes; anxious, wor- 

 ried expression; hot, dry nose and coated tongue. The veins of the eyeball 

 and lips darken in color. The animal lies on the affected side so as to allow 

 the opposite lung more opportunity to expand. 



An examination of the chest will show a restrained movement of the 

 lungs. The characteristic sounds- in the first stage, are a dry, grating, rasp- 

 ing sound caused by the inflamed and roughened surfaces of the pleurae 

 rubbing against each other. After effusion of the liquid has taken place, 

 we have the second stage of the disease. This is easily determined by per- 

 cussion. Press two or three fingers of one hand flat and firmly against 

 the chest wall and strike them with one or two fingers of the other hand. 

 The blows should be quick, short and light. Strike only once on each 

 spot, and move the hand quickly from one spot to another until the entire 

 chest has been covered. If this be done to both the well and affected side, 

 a rapid comparison can be made of the difference in sound. If the sound 

 given forth is dead, flat and woodeny, it denotes an absence of air in that 

 part of the chest and indicates that the chest cavity is filled with fluid 

 and the lung compressed into a solid mass. On auscultation the respiratory 

 sound is entirely suppressed or only faintly heard. An examination of the 

 chest of normal dogs both by auscultation and percussion will familiarize 

 the owner with the natural sounds so that he will have no difficulty in 

 recognizing the departures and variations in disease. 



The pulse in pleurisy is quite diagnostic of the disease, being quick, 

 hard, wiry and much faster than normal. The temperature varies from 

 101 to 103. 



Prognosis: Pleurisy, although a painful disease, is simple as com- 

 pared to pneumonia or bronchitis. As a rule only one side is affected, and 

 in the absence of pus, the disease generally terminates favorably. 



Treatment: In diseases of the chest as in all other diseases, diet and 

 hygienic surroundings are of the utmost importance. The object in the 



