=$40 bronchitis. 



buowchitis. 



The larynx (upper part of the windpipe), the trachea (wind- 

 pipe), and the bronchial tubes (branches from the trachea into 

 the lungs for the passage of air), are lined by one continuous 

 membrane, called the mucous membrane, which secretes a thin 

 mucous substance that always keeps the parts soft and moist. 

 When this membrane becomes inflamed, the disease is named 

 according to its location. If it is confined to the larynx (as 

 has been before observed), it is termed laryngitis ; if to the 

 windpipe, trachitis ; and if to the bronchial tubes, bronchitis. 

 The trachea and bronchia are rarely diseased separately, the 

 inflammation generally extending from one to the other. We 

 shall therefore treat of bronchitis as embracing trachitis like- 

 wise. Even this disease rarely exists unmixed with others, in 

 consequences of which it is often overlooked, or confounded 

 with other diseases of a pulmonary character. 



Bronchitis is generally preceded by a shivering fit ; mouth 

 hot, with more or less saliva; discharge from the nose; cough; 

 sore throat ; fever ; short breathing ; loss of appetite ; accele- 

 rated pulse ; and membrane of nose and eyelids reddened. 



In treating this disease it is much safer to call in the veteri- 

 nary surgeon, in consequence of the difficulty which the ordi- 

 nary observer will experience in distinguishing it from other 

 pulmonary diseases, and from the fact that the treatment 

 varies with the changes that take place in the progress of the 

 disease. It is not necessarily fatal ; yet the most trifling neg- 

 lect or mistake in treatment may make it so. The average loss, 

 if proper treatment is pursued, is not more than five per cent. 

 Resort should never be had to bleeding in any form which the 



