636 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



seveial beats per minute, the mouth becoming cool, the elevation 

 of the temperature gradually subsiding, the appetite returning ; 

 the secretion of urine, which during the febrile period had been 

 scanty, of a high specific gravity, loaded with urea, and deficient 

 in chlorides, is now abundant. Whilst these symptoms of re- 

 turning health are becoming apparent, it will be found that the 

 respiratory movements are increased in rapidity, and auscultation 

 will reveal the fact that consolidation of the lung increases dur- 

 ing the subsidence of the febrile symptoms. 



This had led some pathologists to conclude that all pneumonias 

 are specific fevers terminating by an exudation into the lung 

 tissue, in the same manner as variolous fever terminates in an 

 eruption on the skin. I cannot agree with this view, inasmuch 

 as the pneumonia is a concomitant condition from the com- 

 mencement, and I look upon the exudative process as affording 

 relief to the febrile symptoms, in the same manner as an ordi- 

 nary swelling gives relief in such diseases ^s lymphangitis and 

 ordinary inflammation of areolar tissue. 



It will be seen that pneumonia is dangerous during two stages: 

 first, during the early fever, which may destroy life by its 

 intensity ; and, secondly, during the period of lung hepatization, 

 which may prove fatal by so altering the lung tissue as to pro- 

 duce suffocation. 



These, then, are the two periods during which the practitioner 

 has to exercise his skill and care. In some instances death may 

 occur subsequent to the consolidative stage from raj)id deli- 

 quescence of the inflammatory products, extensive suppuration, 

 or contamination of the blood by degraded exudates absorbed 

 into the circulation. 



In human medicine, the absence of the chlorides in the urine 

 during the earlier stages, and their return in increased quantities 

 in the convalescent stage, is looked upon as of great importance. 

 This is a matter which requires further observations in veteri- 

 nary practice. In most instances, a discharge of a rusty-tinged 

 more or less viscid material from the nose is observed in 

 the horse. This is sometimes streaked with blood ; it is not, 

 however, a constant symptom, as in all probability much of 

 what might be expectorated by the human being is swallowed 

 by the lower animals. The character of the discharge is signifi- 

 cant ; in bronchitis and catarrhal pneumonia it is more or less 



