34 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



in the blood. A plethoric state of the system also predis- 

 230ses ; hence the disease is of more common occurrence in 

 the spring, after the high feeding and little exercise during 

 the winter season. It may be due in some cases to the in- 

 halation of morbid material of some kind, causing pyaemia 

 and pneumonia. It may also occur as a result of contact 

 with glanderous horses, and is then termed ' glanderous 

 pneumonia.' Pneumonia is also sometimes a result of 

 various respiratory diseases, as bronchitis, laryngitis, etc. 

 And most of the conditions which have a tendency to cause 

 bronchitis and other respiratory troubles, as sudden changes 

 of temperature, exposure, etc., will also, under certain 

 conditions, give rise to pneumonia. 



Symptoms. — The disease is ushered in by rigors, which 

 are usually, but not always, well marked. Respiration is 

 not affected to any great extent at first. Pulse quickened, 

 varying from sixty to eighty beats per minute, and perhaps 

 full. The mouth is hot, and has a peculiar feeling of 

 stickiness ; temperature becomes increased ; all the visible 

 mucous membranes are reddened, highly injected, and dry, 

 indicating the presence of the febrile stage. Ears and legs 

 are usually cold, but sometimes alternately hot and cold. 

 Another characteristic of this disease is that the horse per- 

 sistently retains the upright posture, while the ox as per- 

 sistently remains in a recumbent position. There are 

 exceptional cases, where the congestion is very severe or 

 the pleura is affected, when he will lie down, but will rise 

 almost immediately, not having found the expected relief. 

 The animal will face the door so as to get the fresh air. In 

 health the respirations are about ten per minute, but are 

 increased in this trouble. Auscultation and percussion are 

 material aids in diagnosis. The vesicular murmur is in- 

 creased, giving rise to a sort of crepitating sound, which 

 has been compared to the sound produced by rubbing a 



