146 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



unless it be performed without delay, the animal will 

 die from suffocation. 



CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS. 



Congestion of the lungs is most frequently caused 

 by the horse being galloped until distressed, when in an 

 unfit condition of body. It consists of stagnation of 

 blood in the lungs, which causes exhaustion and suffo- 

 cation, and the horse at once assumes a distressed look ; 

 the eyes and nostrils likewise assume an appearance of 

 congestion and stagnation, the breathing is accelerated 

 and painful, with laborious heaving of the flanks. 

 There is usually a cold sweat on the body, with great 

 coldness of the extremities. It can be distinguished 

 from inflammation of the lungs by the difference of 

 sound on applying the ear to the horse's sides. In con- 

 gestion the sound will be almost precisely similar to 

 that heard in healthy respiration ; whereas in inflamma- 

 tion, there will be heard a grating, crackling sound 

 which is unmistakable. 



The treatment should consist of endeavouring to 

 bring about a determination of blood to the skin. To 

 effect which, since neither the vapour nor hot bath are 

 within our reach here, we must have recourse to hot 

 blankets applied to the body, hand rubbing, and hot 

 bandages to the legs ; and a free current of air through 

 the stables, together with the free use of hot cordial 

 drinks, such as spiced ale, given at intervals of half an 

 hour. 



Bleeding must be carefully avoided, as it would only 



