246 PLEURISY. 



pneumonia. The former disease rarely exists in a pure form ; 

 and as in a work like the present it is unnecessary to consider 

 the delicately drawn distinctions between the two types, both 

 will be treated as if they constituted in reality but one disease. 



Pleurisy may exist in an acute or chronic form. The attack 

 may be sudden, or gradual, the animal manifesting indisposi- 

 tion several days previous. A hard drive, over-exertion, 

 exposure to cold, washing in cold water when warm, a fall, 

 fracture of a rib, a punctured wound, &c., are all causes of 

 pleurisy. 



The horse manifests uneasiness ; there is a violent heaving of 

 the flanks, a looking round at his sides, with an anxious expres- 

 sion of the face ; pulse quick and wiry ; body, mouth, and breath 

 hot ; sweating in different parts of the body ; a high state of 

 nervous irritation, the animal pawing, lying down but rising 

 immediately ; a pressure against the side causes pain. A pecu- 

 liar symptom is observable in this disease ; the right fore-leg 

 differs in temperature from the left, and such is the case with 

 the hind ones ; if the right fore-leg is warm, the left hind one 

 will also be warm, and the others cold. 



Experience proves that blood-letting in this disease is only 

 opening the vein to let life escape ; for if by this means we suc- 

 ceed in relieving the inflammatory action, the loss of blood so 

 prostrates the system that the animal from pure debility becomes 

 the victim of hydrothorax, or dropsy of the chest, living a mis- 

 erable life for several weeks, perhaps months, to die at last from 

 the accumulation of fluid in the chest. Bleeding, therefore, is 

 uncalled for, and in fact is positively injurious. The early ap- 

 plication of blisters to the sides is very important; and for this 

 purpose the same preparation will be found serviceable as has 



