108 DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 



whicli, as it afterwards turned out, in the sequel and termi- 

 nation of the attack, to be so much stood in need of by the 

 animal. 



Medicine. — Some veterinary surgeons administer early 

 in this disease, after they have bled, a stimulant; and 

 though such measures as bleeding and stimulation would at 

 first view appear irreconcileable, yet I am disposed to think, 

 supposing the disease to be in the congestive stage, that the 

 practice is a good one. After bloodletting has relieved the 

 overcharged pulmonary vessels, a stimulant may prove ser- 

 viceable, by adding to their power of contraction. The 

 stimulant commonly exhibited, and perhaps the best, is 

 nitrous sether. From two to four ounces may be given in 

 a pint of warm beer or water. It is a good practice, 

 early also, to rectify the bowels, emptying the posterior 

 ones, either with a slight aperient (two or three drachms of 

 purging mass), or effecting the same thing, in the preferable 

 way, by enemata of soap and water. The medicine I have 

 found of most service under a regular set-in pneumonia, has 

 been the alterative ball as recommended for bronchitis, made 

 after the manner of Plummer^s pill, or Pil. Hydrarg. Chlorid. 

 C, twice or thrice a day, until the mouth become affected. 

 Providing the bowels be solid or ^' set^^ there is no fear of 

 disturbing them with it. And this it is that inclines me more 

 to rely upon clysters than to run any risk from an aperient ; 

 since it is through the set and undisturbed condition of 

 the bowels that we are enabled to push the Plummer's pill, 

 which often requires some days before we are able to perceive 

 any benefit arising from it. In its operation, it seems to aug- 

 ment the secretions in general, acting as a powerful diuretic, 

 and finally to produce that change in the system so con- 

 ducive to the return of normal function, while it is casting 

 out the diseased one. 



Counter-irritation is a valuable adjunct in the cure of 

 pneumonia; though it be one from which we are not to 

 expect much operation so long as the inflammatory action 

 continues to run high : an impression must be made on the 

 fever in the system before any blister or rowel or setou will 



