114 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



VERMINOUS BRONCHITIS. 



This is a disease that sometimes attacks young cattle when 

 pastured in low-lying meadows near rivers subject to flood. It is 

 caused by a small worm, -Strongylus micrurus, which lodges in 

 large numbers in the trachea and bronchial tubes, giving rise to 

 considerable irritation of the air passages and inflammation. Some- 

 times the strongylus lodge in large numbers in the windpipe, form- 

 ing themselves into a ball, and thus choke the animal to death. 



Symptoms. It is liable to attack a number of animals at 

 once, and the weakest are the first to give way. The animal has 

 a remarkably forcible cough, distressing, and of a special hack- 

 ing and paroxysmal character. A stringy mucus is sometimes 

 expelled during the spells of coughing. This mucus contains the 

 Strongylus micrurus, which can be detected, or their ova ob- 

 served, under a low power of the microscope. The attack has a 

 subacute character and proves very exhausting. The parasites, 

 by becoming entwined in balls, seriously impede respiration, which 

 is always remarkably labored in this disease. 



Treatment. The affected calves should be placed in a dry 

 stable, protected from dampness, and subjected to fumigations of 

 sulphurous anhydrid or chlorin gas. The liberation of chlorin gas 

 is brought about by the action of sulphuric acid, either on a mix- 

 ture of chloride of sodium and black oxid of manganese or on 

 bleaching powder. Sulphurous anhydrid may be procured by 

 burning sulphur. Some practitioners prescribe small doses of spirits 

 of turpentine in linseed oil. The system requires good support, and 

 the diet should therefore be liberal and nutritious. Equal parts of 

 sulphate of iron, gentian, and ginger make an excellent tonic. 



Prevention. Avoid pastures notorious for generating vermin- 

 ous bronchitis. 



PLEURODYNIA. 



This is a term applied to rheumatism of the intercostal mus- 

 cles. The apparent symptoms are quite similar to those of pleu- 

 risy. The animal is stiff and not inclined to turn around, and the 

 ribs are kept in a fixed state as much as possible. Pleurodynia 

 may be distinguished from pleurisy by the coexistence of rheuma- 

 tism in other parts and by the comparative absence of fever, cough, 

 the friction sound, and the effusion into the chest. The treatment 

 for this affection is the same as that for rheumatism affecting other 

 parts. 



DISEASES OF THE HEART, BLOOD VESSELS, AND LYM- 

 PHATICS. 



The heart, blood vessels, and lymphatics may be described as 

 the circulatory apparatus. 



The heart is located in the thoracic cavity (chest). It is con- 

 ical in form, with the base or large part uppermost, while the apex, 

 or point, rests just above the sternum (breastbone). It is situated 

 between the right and left lungs, the apex inclining to the left, 

 and owing to this circumstance the heart beats are best felt on the left 



