INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX. 193 



the hair. A n embrocation sufficiently powerful, and yet that never destroys the hair, 

 consists of equal parts of hartshorn, oil of turpentine, and camphorated spirit, with a 

 small quantity of laudanum. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX. 



Strictly speaking, this refers to inflammation confined to the larynx ; but either 

 catarrh or bronchitis, or both, frequently accompany the complaint. 



Its approach is often insidious, scarcely to be distinguished from catarrh, except by 

 being attended with more soreness of throat, and less enlargement of the parotid glands. 

 There are also more decided and violent paroxysms of coughing than in common 

 catarrh, attended by a gurgling noise, which may be heard at a little distance from 

 the horse, and which, by auscultation, is decidedly referrible to the larynx. The 

 breathing is sliorter and quicker, and evidently more painful than catarrh ; the mem- 

 brane of the nose is redder; it is of a deep modena colour; and the horse shrinks, 

 and exhibits great pain v/hen the larynx is pressed upon. The paroxysms of cough- 

 ing become more frequent and violent, and the animal appears at times almost 

 suffocated. 



As the soreness of the throat proceeds, the head of the animal is projected, and the 

 neck has a peculiar stiffness. There is also much difficulty of swallowing. Con- 

 siderable swelling of the larynx and the pharynx ensue, and also of the parotid, sub- 

 lingual, and submaxillary glands. As the inflammation increases, the cough becomes 

 hoarse and feeble, and in some cases altogether suspended. At the commencement, 

 there is usually little or no nasal defluxion ; but the secretion soon appears, either 

 pure or mixed with an unusual quantity of saliva. 



Auscultation is a very important aid in the discovery of the nature, and serious or 

 trifling character of this disease. It cannot be too often repeated, that it is one of the 

 most valuable means which we possess of detecting the seat, intensity, and results of 

 the maladies of the respiratory passages. No insrument is r°quired ; the naked ear 

 can be applied evenly and flatly, and with a very slight pressure, on any part that it 

 is of importance to examine. Tlie healthy sound, when the ear is applied to the 

 windpipe, is that of a body of air passing unint'^rniptedly through a smooth tube ot 

 somewhat considerable calibre : it very much resembles the sound of a pair of forge 

 bellows, when not too violently worked. 



He who is desirous of ascertaining whether there is any disease in the larynx of a 

 horse, should apply his ear to the lower part of the windpipe. If he finds that the ait 

 passes in and out without interniption, there is no disease of any consequence either 

 in the windpipe or the chest; for it would immediately be detected by the loudness or 

 the interruption of the murmur. Then let him gradually proceed up the neck, with 

 his ear still upon the windpipe. Perhaps he soon begins to recognise a little gurgling, 

 grating sound. As he continues to ascend, that sound is more decisive, mingled with 

 an occasional wheezing, wh'.-stling noise. He can have no surer proof that here is the 

 impediment to the passage of the air, proceeding from the thickening of the membrane 

 and diminution of the passage, or increased secretion of mucus, which bubbles and 

 rattles as the breath passes. By the degree of the rattling or whistling, the owner 

 will judge which cause of obstruction preponderates — in fact, he will have discovered 

 the seat and the state of the disease and the sooner he has recourse to professional 

 advice the better. 



Chronic laryn^^itis is of more frequent occurrence than acute. Many of the coughs 

 that are most troublesome are to be traced to this source. 



In violent cases laryngitis terminates in suffocation ; in others, in thick wind or 

 in roaring. Occasionally it is necessary to have recourse to the operation of trache- 

 otomy. 



In acute laryngitis the treatment to be pursued is sufficiently plain. Blood must 

 be abstracted, and that from the juQular vein, for there will then be the combined 

 advantage of general and local bleeding. The blood must be somewhat copiously 

 withdrawn, depending on the degree of inflimmation — the practitioner never for a 

 moment forgetting that he bus to do with inflammation of a mucous membrane, and 

 that what he does ho must do quickly. He will have lost the opportunity of strug- 

 gling successfully with the disease when it has altered its character and debility has 

 succeeded. The cases must be few and far between when the surgeon makes up 

 his mind to anv determinate quantity of blood, and leaves his assistant or his groom 

 17 " a 



