96 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



sure between the ribs gives pain and usually causes the animal to 

 flinch and grunt. The muzzle is hot and dry, the mouth slimy, and 

 the secretions scanty. After a day or two the severity of the symp- 

 toms is much lessened, the temperature, which during the first days 

 may have been as high as 106° F., falls to 103° or 104°, the pain 

 decreases, the stiffness disappears, and the patient eats a little. The 

 pulse softens, but remains quicker than normal. Now, day by day 

 the patient loses a little strength, the friction sound disappears as 

 the exudation moistens the pleural surfaces; percussion now shows 

 a horizontal line of dullness, which day by day rises higher in the 

 chest, the respiration grows more frequent and labored, the counte- 

 nance is anxious and haggard, the eyes sink somewhat in their 

 sockets, and in unfavorable cases death occurs during the second 

 or third week, from either asphyxia or heart failure. 



In pleurisy, as in pneumonia, the elbows are usually turned out- 

 ward. Care must be taken to differentiate pleurisy from traumatic 

 pericarditis (which see). In the latter condition the area of dullness 

 of the heart is much increased, and usually a splashing sound is 

 heard at each beat of the heart. Another diagnostic symptom of 

 value is that in traumatic pericarditis respiration is painful, not 

 difficult, and the respiratory rate is very much increased on move- 

 ment. In both conditions a considerable swelling of the dewlap may 

 be noticed in the later stages. 



Treatment. — Give the same general care as recommended in bron- 

 chitis or pneumonia. In the early stages give a febrifuge to reduce 

 the fever, as directed for pneumonia. For relief of the cough give 

 electuary formula, W'hich will be found in the treatment of laryngitis. 

 The bowels must be kept relaxed and the kidneys secreting freely. 

 In the stage of effusion the following should be given three times 

 daily: Digitalis tincture, 1 ounce; iodid of potassium, 30 to 60 

 grains ; mix. Apply strong coimterirritant to chest and put seton in 

 dewlap. (See " Setoning," p. 293.) If collapse of the Ivmg is threat- 

 ened, a surgical operation, termed paracentesis thoracis, is sometimes 

 performed ; this consists in puncturing the chest cavity and drawing 

 off a part of the fluid. The instruments used are a small trocar and 

 cannula, which are introduced between the eighth and ninth ribs. 

 The skin should be drawn forward so that the external wound may 

 not correspond to the puncture of the chest, to prevent the entrance 

 of air. Only a portion of the fluid should be removed. The animal 

 gets immediate relief, but it is generally only temporary, as the 

 fluid has a tendency to accumulate again. 



PNEUMONIA. 



Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung substance, and is divided 

 into three forms, viz, croupous, catarrhal, and interstitial. These 



