DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 



117 



14. Water in the Chest (Hydrothorax). 



This generally follows a case of pleurisy. In some cases 

 there may be several pails of a watery fluid around the lungs 



Fig. 5. — A Horse Suffering from an Attack of Water in the Chest (Hydrothorax.) 



in the chest cavity. When there is such a large quantity as 

 this it generally ends fatally. 



Causes. — Pleurisy. 



Symptoms. — After the pain and soreness from pleurisy 

 has passed off the fluid commences to collect around the 

 chest. This causes heavy breathing, the nostrils becoming 

 large, sometimes making a flapping noise. He breathes 

 quickly, and draws in and out at the flank worse than during 

 a bad case of heaves. The pulse becomes quicker than in 

 pleurisy, and very weak, beating from 75 to 100 beats per 

 minute. The blood in the jugular vein seems to flow back 

 toward the head instead of flowing down, causing this vein to 

 move every time he breathes. By putting your ear to the 

 chest nothing can be heard except above the water. If loose 

 he will try to move to the door or window to get the pure 

 air. In some cases he will act like this for several days, not 

 eating very much, and gradually getting worse. Near the 

 last his ears and legs get very cold, and all other symptoms 

 keep increasing. He, however, tries to stand on his feet till 

 the very last. 



