168 HORSE, SWINE 'AND POULTRY DISEASES 



thoracic cavity outside of the lung. This condition is known as 

 pneumothorax and may result in collapse of the lung. The wound 

 may be so made that wnen the walls of the chest are dilating a little 

 air is sucked in, but during the contraction of the wall the contained 

 air presses against the torn part in such a manner as entirely to close 

 the wound ; thus a small quantity of air gains access with each inspi- 

 ration, while none is allowed to escape until the lung is pressed into 

 a very small compass and forced into the anterior part of the chest. 

 The same thing may occur from a broken rib inflicting a wound in 

 the lung. In this form the air gains access from the lung, and there 

 may not even be an opening in the walls of the chest. In such cases 

 the air may be absorbed, when a spontaneous cure is the result. But 

 when the symptoms are urgent it is recommended that the air be 

 removed by a trocar and canula or by an aspirator. 



It is evident that the treatment of wounds that penetrate the tho- 

 racic cavity should be prompt. It should be quickly ascertained 

 whether or not a foreign body remains in the wound, then it should 

 be thoroughly cleaned with a solution of carbolic acid, 1 part in 

 water 40 parts. The wound should then be closed immediately. If 

 it is an incised wound, it should be closed with sutures or with adhe- 

 sive plasters; if torn or lacerated, adhesive plaster may be used or a 

 bandage around the chest over the dressing. At all events, air must 

 be prevented from getting into the chest as soon and as effectually as 

 possible. The after treatment of the wound should principally con- 

 sist in keeping the parts clean with a solution of carbolic acid, and 

 applying fresh dressing as often as required to keep the wound in a 

 healthy condition. Care should be taken that the discharges from 

 the wound have an outlet in the most dependent part. If pleurisy 

 supervenes, it should be treated as advised under that head. 



THUMPS, OR SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 



Thumps is generally thought by the inexperienced to be a pal- 

 pitation of the heart. While it is true that palpitation of the heart is 

 sometimes called thumps, it must not be confounded with the affec- 

 tion under consideration. In the beginning of this article on the dis- 

 eases of the organs of respiration, the diaphragm was briefly referred 

 to as the principal and essential muscle of respiration. Spasmodic 

 or irregular contractions of it in man are manifested by what is famil- 

 iarly known as hiccoughs. Thumps in the horse is similar to hic- 

 coughs in man, although the peculiar noise is not made in the throat 

 of the horse in all cases. 



There should be no difficulty in distinguishing this affection 

 from palpitation of the heart. The jerky motion affects the whole 

 body, and is not confined to the region of the heart. If one hand is 

 placed on the body at about the middle of the last rib, while the other 

 hand is placed over the heart behind the left elbow, it will be easily 

 demonstrated that there is no connection between the thumping or 

 jerking of the diaphragm and the beating of the heart. In fact, 

 when the animal is affected with spasms of the diaphragm the beat- 

 ing of the heart is usually much weaker and less perceptible than 

 natural. Thumps is produced by causes similar to those that produce 



