INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 635 



any means diagnostic of pulmonary inflammation. In many 

 cases the breathing in the earlier stages is not difficult, and one 

 is often surprised upon auscultating the chest to find that con- 

 solidation has proceeded to a great extent without any very 

 distinct symptoms having been presented. 



In the earlier stages, the symptoms are acceleration of the 

 pulse ; in very many instances it will average eighty beats per 

 minute ; hotness of the mouth, and elevation of the temperature 

 to 103*, 104,° or even 106°; there is a dry, dull cough, coldness 

 of the extremities, and some degree of rigor. In some instances 

 the disease is ushered in by a severe rigor, succeeded by a hot 

 stage ; the mucous membranes are red and injected, the con- 

 junctivse presenting sometimes a rusty yellow tinge ; the animal 

 does not lie down, and if loose wanders occasionally about in a 

 dull, depressed manner, now and then eating a mouthful of food. 

 It is stated that the animal stands with its limbs outstretched 

 and head protruded. I have, however, failed to observe this, 

 except in very acute and congestive cases, until the disease has 

 made considerable progress. There is some degree of constipa- 

 tion, but the faeces are mixed with flakes of mucus ; the bowels 

 are irritable, and do not tolerate purgatives. If complicated 

 with pleurisy, the breathing is more distressed, abdominal, and 

 painful, but in pure pneumonia there is an absence of any very 

 painful symptoms. I have carefully noted the breathing in 

 many cases of pneumonia, and found that the respiratory move- 

 ments may not be above twenty per minute for several days 

 after attack — a difference so slight from the normal number, that 

 one is apt to overlook it altogether. The observations of Dr. W. 

 Gairdner, tliat " the dyspnoea of pure pneumonia is a mere accele- 

 o^ation of the respiration, without any of the heaving or straining 

 inspiration observed in bronchitis, or in cases when the two 

 diseases are combined," hold good both in horses and cattle'; but 

 congestive paroxysms are not at all infrequent during the pro- 

 gress of the malady, during which the breathing is not only 

 greatly accelerated, but also laborious and distressed. As the 

 disease advances, the respiratory movements become somewhat 

 accelerated, until the period of crisis, when usually the breathing 

 becomes much quickened. As a clinical fact, it may be stated 

 that the fever continues for some days — five, eight, or sometimes 

 longer — and that it then gradually subsides, the pulse falling 



