DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 597 



by a short expiratory movement, sometimes, but very rarely, 

 attended by a hoarseness. The animal's nose is protruded, 

 the superior respiratory passages being thus made to approach 

 as near a straight line as possible; the eyes prominent, con- 

 junctivae red and highly injected, with abundant flow of tears. 

 There is a peculiarly anxious and distressed expression of the 

 face, the alee of the nostrils are dilated, the nasal chambers 

 are reddened, there is a hoarse rasping cough, sweats bedew 

 the body, the legs and ears are cold, the latter often drooping ; 

 the animal manifests its distress by frequently stamping with 

 its feet — the fore ones particularly. The slightest excitement 

 aggravates all these symptoms ; the pulse, which may at first be 

 hard and full, soon becomes rapid and indistinct — fulness 

 generally remaining ; the visible mucous membranes now assume 

 a livid appearance from non-oxidation of the blood ; prostration 

 of strength becomes extreme ; the animal staggers, finally falls, 

 and dies after a few struggles. The above is a description of 

 by no means a common, but of an aggravated form, of acute 

 laryngitis. In many cases the symptoms are much less severe, 

 but they partake of the general character of those above 

 described. There is generally a discharge from the nose, even 

 in the early stages, and the act of deglutition is performed with 

 great difficulty. In some instances this is due to the inflam- 

 mation extending to the pharynx ; in others, however, there 

 seems to be no real pharyngeal complication, for if tracheotomy 

 be performed, the difficulty in swallowing is immediately re- 

 moved. It appears to me that the difficulty in swallowing is 

 due to the momentary pressure of any liquid or solid upon the 

 inflamed epiglottis, causing increased interruption to the ingress 

 of air. Eestore the freedom of breathing by the operation of 

 tracheotomy, and the passage of fluids or solids from the fauces 

 into the pharynx no longer prevents the free ingress of air, 

 and hence the swallowing again becomes easy. In those cases, 

 however, in which the difficulty in swallowing persists, the 

 pharynx is inflamed, and the food is returned into the nose, 

 tinging the mucus with its own colour. 



The causes are the same as those of common cold. 



Treatment. — In an aggravated case this must be prompt. In- 

 halation of steam, and hot fomentations to the throat, may be 

 tried for a short time, but if the distress is not speedily relieved, 



