PLEURITIS. 177 



stage, and may be given in five or six minim doses every 

 four hours. In cases where the abdominal pain is great, 

 some authorities recommend the injection of forty minims 

 of solutio morphise hydrochloratis hypod. (B.P.) into the 

 subcutaneous tissue at the point of the sternum. 



Woollen cloths wrung out from hot water and applied 

 round the chest, as in pneumonia,"^ are of great service in 

 pleurisy also. They should be applied for about two hours 

 continuously, and should be renewed four or five times 

 daily, as long as the acute symptoms last. 



If after abatement of the severe febrile symptoms the 

 animal seems to make no progress towards recovery, but 

 still breathes with difficulty, and the temperature remains 

 high, stimulating liniments applied to the chest are recom- 

 mended as very useful. 



^^About four ounces of whisky, or other alcoholic liquor, 

 may be given also under these circumstances three times 

 daily, and if we have any reason to suspect the accumula- 

 tion of liquid in the pleural sac, one drachm of potassium 

 iodide may be given with the drinking-water two or three 

 times a day. 



In those cases where debility follows the acute symptoms, 

 quinine and salts of iron may be given in addition to the 

 above remedies. 



AVhen the effusion is extensive, and, although all thera- 

 peutic measures have been taken, remains unabated after 

 three weeks or so, thus interfering seriously with the respira- 

 tion, it is advisable to perform the operation of paracentesis 

 thoracis, in order to relieve the pressure of the fluid on the 

 lungs. 



Some authorities have highly recommended cantharides 

 in doses of three to six grains, with half a drachm of digitalis 



■^ Vide ' Treatment of Acute Pneumonia,' page 162. 



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