SIMPLE CATARRH. 



CHAPTER I. 



Diseases of the Respiratory System. 



SIMPLE CATARRH. 



The horse is more liable to, and suffers oftener from, 

 diseases of the organs of respiration than any other class 

 of animal. I believe he is even more susceptible to 

 respiratory troubles than man himself. The question may 

 be asked, Why is this so ? The answer is as follows : The 

 horse, owing to the extraordinary development of the velum 

 pendulum palati, breathes only through the nostrils, the in- 

 spired air subsequently passing through the nasal chambers, 

 which are of large size and lined throughout their extent by 

 the Schneiderian or pituitary membrane, consequently a very 

 large surface of mucous membrane is exposed to the 

 various atmospheric influences which tend to produce 

 disease. 



One of the most common diseases of this system is 

 catarrh (simple) or coryza, etc. 



Definition. — Simple catarrh may be defined to be an irri- 

 tation of the mucous membrane lining the nasal chambers. 



Causes. — Sudden changes of temperature, extremes of 

 heat and cold, exposure to cold and dampness (and more 

 especially if the system be debilitated), badly ventilated 

 stables, impure air, etc. If the irritation is kept up, or the 

 animal neglected, the inflammation is likely to extend to 

 the throat, setting up laryngitis, or to the bronchial tubes, 

 causing bronchitis, etc., or the whole of the mucous 

 membrane of the respiratory system may become involved 

 in a general inflammation. The disease is most frequently 

 observed in young horses. 



Symptoms. — Probably the first symptom noticed is that 

 the animal is duller than usual, coat slightly staring, dry, 



