EPIZOOTIC PNEUMONIA. 3G7 



manifestation of chest disease, the breathing becomes somewhat 

 hurried, the pulse assuming a hardness of character which it did 

 not possess at first; the number of its beats are not further 

 increased ; on the contrary, rapidity of the pulse may decrease 

 as the exudation on the pleural surfaces advances, and it is not 

 at all uncommon for one to witness an increased rapidity of the 

 respiratory movements, gradual condensation of lung tissue, 

 some effusion into the thoracic cavity, and a diminution in the 

 number of the pulsations. If pericardiac compKcations are 

 present the pulse is marked by a peculiar indistinctiveness 

 and irregularity ; the cardiac beat is generally loud and short ; 

 the impulse, however, is weak, and the arterial pulsations 

 indistinct. 



In some instances the whole body becomes stiff and sore, and 

 the horse is disinclined to move, but stands with its nose 

 extended forwards, nostrils dilated, and fore legs apart, pre- 

 senting an appearance of distress, which is heightened by 

 frequent looks at its sides, and by attempts to lie down, as if 

 suffering from colicky pains. In such instances the respiratory 

 movements are short, shallow, and much accelerated, numbering 

 fifty, sixty, or even eighty or more per minute, whereas in the 

 majority of cases they do not number more than thirty per 

 minute, when auscultation may detect considerable exudation 

 into the lung tissue. 



An examination of the respiratory apparatus by percussion 

 and auscultation — the only satisfactory method of diagnosing 

 chest diseases — will enable the practitioner to detect the various 

 changes as they occur. 



1. Tor the first two or three days after attack both percussion 

 and auscultation often give negative results ; at the termination 

 of that period percussion over the seat of the pleural inflam- 

 mation will cause the animal to groan. Auscultation will detect 

 a dry friction sound if the pleura be affected ; absence of true 

 respiratory murmur, aiid the presence of crepitations, large or 

 small, if the lung-substance be involved; a combination of 

 friction sound, and crepitations, if both pleura and lung tissue, 

 and a " to-and-fro " rasping friction sound, with more or less 

 palpitation, if the pericardium be involved. 



These signs indicate — 1st. That the natural pleural secretion 

 is arrested, and that the dry pleural surfaces rubbing on each 



