DISEASES OF HORSES 23 



dication of an obstruction in a nasal chamber. If the air possesses a 

 bad odor, it is usually an indication of putrefaction of a tissue or 

 secretion in some part of the respiratory tract. A bad odor is found 

 where there is necrosis of the bone in the nasal passages or in chronic 

 catarrh. An ulcerating tumor of the nose or throat may cause the 

 breath to have an offensive odor. The most offensive breath occurs 

 where there is gangrene of the lungs. 



In some diseases there is a discharge from the nose. In order to 

 determine the significance of the discharge it should be examined 

 closely. One should ascertain whether it comes from one or both 

 nostrils. If but from one nostril, it probably originates in the head. 

 The color should be noted. A thin, watery discharge may be com- 

 posed of serum, and it occurs in the earlier stages of nasal catarrh. 

 An opalescent, slightly tinted discharge is composed of mucus and 

 indicates a little more severe irritation. If the discharge is sticky 

 and pus-like, a deeper difficulty or more advanced irritation is indi- 

 cated. If the discharge contains flakes and clumps of more or less 

 dried particles, it is probable that it originates within a cavity of the 

 head. The discharge of glanders is of a peculiar sticky nature and 

 adheres to the wings of the nostrils. The discharge of pneumonia is 

 of a somewhat red or reddish brown color, and, on this account, has 

 been described as a prune-juice discharge. The discharge may con- 

 tain blood. If the blood appears as clots or as streaks in the discharge, 

 it probably originates at some point in the upper part of the respira- 

 tory tract. If the blood is in the form of a fine froth, it comes from 

 the lungs. 



In examining the interior of the nasal passage one should re- 

 member that the normal color of the mucous membrane is a rosy 

 pink and that its surface is smooth. If ulcers, swellings, or tumors 

 are found, these indicate disease. The ulcer that is characteristic of 

 glanders is described fully in connection with the discussion of that 

 disease. 



Between the lower jaws there are several clusters of lymphatic 

 glands. These glands are so small and so soft that it is difficult to 

 find them by feeling through the skin, but when a suppurative disease 

 exists in the upper part of the respiratory tract these glands become 

 swollen and easy to feel. They may become soft and break down 

 and discharge as abscesses; this is seen constantly in strangles. On 

 the other hand, they may become hard from the proliferation of con- 

 nective tissue and attach themselves to the jawbone, to the tongue, or 

 to the skin. This is seen in chronic glanders. 



The manner in which the horse coughs is of importance in diag- 

 nosis. The purpose of the cough is to remove some irritant substance 

 from the respiratory passages, and it occurs when irritant gases, such 

 as smoke, ammonia, sulphur vapor, or dust, have been inhaled. It 

 occurs from inhalation of cold air if the respiratory passages are sensi- 

 tive from disease. In bronchitis and pneumonia, cough is very easily 

 excited and occurs merely from accumulation of mucus and inflam- 

 matory product upon the irritated respiratory mucous membrane. If 

 one wishes to determine the character of the cough, it can easily be 



