DISEASES OF HORSES 153 



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. The appetite is lost to a greater or less extent, but the desire 

 for water is increased, particularly during the onset of the fever. 

 The membrane within the 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 usually 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 affected with pneumonia a horse does not lie 

 down, but persists in standing from the beginning of the attack. 

 However, if pneumonia is complicated with pleurisy, the horse may 

 appear restless and lie down for a few moments to gain relief from 

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

 is rapid and difficult, but when the pneumonia is complicated with 

 pleurisy 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 quite dull, as that elicited by 

 percussion over the thigh. 



By auscultation important information may be gained. When 

 the ear is placed against the chest of a healthy horse, the respiratory 

 murmur is heard more or less distinctly, according to the part of the 

 chest that is beneath the ear. In the very first stage of pneumonia 

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

 crackling sound something similar to that produced when salt is 

 thrown in a fire. After the affected 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 more or less moist charac- 

 ter and resemble a bubbling or gurgling noise, which gradually 

 change until the natural sound is heard announcing return to 

 health. 



When a fatal termination is approaching all the symptoms 

 become intensified. The breathing becomes still more rapid and 

 difficult ; the flanks heave ; the animal stares wildly about as if seek- 

 ing aid to drive off the feeling of suffocation; the body is bathed 

 with sweat ; the horse staggers, but quickly recovers his balance ; he 

 may now, for the first time during me attack, lie down ; he does so, 

 however, in the hope of relief, which he fails to find, and with diffi- 

 culty struggles to his feet; he pants; the nostrils flap; he staggers 

 and sways from side to side and backward and forward, but still 

 tries to retain the standing position, even by propping himself 



