138 DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 



accounts for our meeting with water in the chesty pericar- 

 dium, and abdomen — and head too, perhaps — in the same 

 subject; of which there are many cases on record. It 

 likewise furnishes a reason for unsuccessfulness from the 

 operation of paracentesis. 



PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



Pleuro-pneumonia and pneumo -pleurisy are the names 

 given to that extended inflammation which involves both lung 

 and pleura ; the one or the other of them being considered the 

 more appropriate according to the part in which the disease 

 predominates. I have before stated that the majority of cases 

 of what, in common language, are called *^^ inflammation of 

 the lungs^^ belong to this compound class; an observation 

 in accordance with that, I believe, of our best veterinarians. 

 A French writer, Delafond, denies this, and by way of 

 proofs brings forward fifty-five cases of horses that have died 

 of disease of the chest, out of which twenty-seven were pneu- 

 monia, fifteen pleurisy, and but eight pleuro-pneumonia. 

 However, he has very properly qualified his observation by 

 remarking, that locality, constitution, and certain unknown 

 agents — such as produce epidemics — may have considerable 

 influence. Although I do not assent to Delafond's compu- 

 tation, yet his remarks must be admitted judicious, and his 

 inferences sound : — " If experience,^^ says he, '^ has proved 

 that, cceteris paribus, pneumonia is more easy of cure than 

 pleurisy, and that the two diseases united are more formid- 

 able and often er fatal, is it not a reason why a veterinarian, 

 jealous of his reputation, ought to be able to distinguish one 

 from the other ? But, how is he to acquire that diagnostical 

 precision, unless through the valuable aids of percussion and 

 auscultation? By these unerring lights, the practitioner 

 will see his way sufiiciently clear to employ this or that me- 

 dicament, according to the nature, seat, and duration of the 

 disease. Such alone constitutes rational practice. And, to 

 go a step further, how much better a situation will he be 

 in, then, to inform his employer of the probable result of the 

 case V^ 



