154 HORSE, SWINE 'AND POULTRY DISEASES 



against the stall. It is no use, as after an exhausting fight for breath 

 he goes down ; the limbs stretch out and become rigid. In fatal cases 

 death usually occurs in from ten to twenty days after the beginning 

 of the attack. On the other -hand, when the disease is terminating 

 favorably the signs are obvious. The fever abates and the animal 

 gradually improves in appetite; he takes more notice of things 

 around him; his spirits improve; he has a general appearance of 

 returning health, and he lies down and rests. In the majority of 

 cases pneumonia, if properly treated, terminates in recovery. 



Treatment. The comfort and surroundings of the patient must 

 be attended to first. The quarters should be the best that can be pro- 

 vided. Pure air is essential. Avoid placing the animal in a stall 

 where he may be exposed to drafts of cold air and sudden changes of 

 temperature. It is much better for the animal if the air is cold and 

 pure than if it is warm and foul. It is better to make the animal 

 comfortable with warm clothing than to make the stable warm by 

 shutting off the ventilation. The animal should have an unlimited 

 supply of fresh cold drinking water from the start. Blanket the 

 body. Rub the legs until they are warm and then put bandages on 

 them from the hoofs up to the knees and hocks. If warmth can not 

 be re-established in the legs by hand rubbing alone, apply dry ground 

 mustard and rub well in. The bandages should be removed once or 

 twice every day, the legs well rubbed, and the bandages replaced. 

 Much harm is often done by clipping off hair and rubbing in pow- 

 erful blistering compounds. They do positive injury and retard 

 recovery, and should not be allowed. Much benefit may be derived 

 from hot applications to the sides of the chest if the facilities are at 

 hand to apply them. If the weather be not too cold, and if the ani- 

 mal is in a comfortable stable, the following method may be tried: 

 Have a tub of hot water handy to the stable door; soak a woolen 

 blanket in the water, then quickly wring as much water as possible 

 out of it and wrap it around the chest. See that it fits closely to the 

 skin ; do not allow it to sag down so that air may get between it and 

 the skin. Now wrap a dry blanket over the wet hot one and hold in 

 place with three girths. The hot blanket should be renewed every 

 half hour, and while it is off being wetted and wrung the dry one 

 should remain over the wet part of the chest to prevent reaction. 

 The hot applications should be kept up for three or four hours, and 

 when stopped the skin should be quickly rubbed as dry as possible, 

 an application of alcohol rubbed over the wet part, and a dry blanket 

 snugly fitted over the animal. If the hot applications appear to 

 benefit, they may be tried on three or four consecutive days. Unless 

 every facility and circumstance favors the application of heat in the 

 foregoing manner, do not attempt it. If the weather is very cold or 

 any of the details are omitted, more harm than good may result. 

 Mustard may be applied by making a paste with a pound of freshly 

 ground mustard mixed with warm water. This is to be spread 

 evenly over the sides back of the shoulder blades and down to the 

 median line below the chest. Care should be taken to avoid rubbing 

 the mustard upon the thin skin immediately back of the elbow. 



