78 DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 



Paroxysmal respiration, as we denominate it, is the 

 occasional increase in the frequency and embarrassment of the 

 breathing which is sometimes seen in horses labouring under 

 bronchitic affections, more especially in the seasons of In- 

 fluenza. At one time the horse is breathing with no more 

 than ordinary or usual disturbance under the circumstances 

 of his disordered state, while the next hour, or minute even, 

 his respiration appears flurried, as though he had just received 

 some fright or shock. Wait a short time however, and the 

 commotion will subside. We believe this excitement to be 

 nervous. It is not relievable by either venesection or 

 sether or laudanum. It must have its spend, and then 

 will gradually disappear. 



The EXPIRED AIR is also worthy of our observation, as a 

 farther test of the nature of the disease present. In all ani- 

 mals, its temperature — ascertained by holding the hand before 

 the nostrils — is a little below that of the body. In frequent 

 respiration, sympathetic fever, bronchitis and acute pneu- 

 monia, the breath will be hot. In all chronic diseases, and 

 particularly in tubercular phthisis and in pleurisy, both 

 acute and chronic, it will be cold. The breath, inodorous 

 in health, may, under disease of the air-passsages or lungs, 

 acquire certain odours. In pharyngeal affections, in caries 

 of the bones, and vomicae discharging through the bronchial 

 tubes, the breath becomes fetid ; but in gangrene of the 

 lungs, even putrid in odour. 



PERCUSSION AND AUSCULTATION. 



For years past both these means of exploration of the 

 cavity of the thorax have been practised by veterinarians as 

 tests of the presence of water : it is only, however, since the 

 brilliant lights thrown upon the subject by the immortal 

 Laennec,that we, in common with surgeons, have derived much 

 advantage from them ; and even now it is to the practised 

 hand and ear alone of the man of accurate observation and 

 multifold experience, that percussion and auscultation will 

 yield in hair-clothed animals their full products. On this 

 account we prefer giving the practice of a French author, 



