IXFLAMiMATIOX OP THE TRACHEA. 2G7 



tlie •windpipe, is tliat of a body of air passing uninterruptedly tlirougli a 

 smooth tube of 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 air passes in and out without interruption, there is no 

 disease of any consequence either in the windpipe or the chest ; for it 

 would imm ediately be detected by the loudness or the interruption of the 

 mui-mur. 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, whistling noise. He can have no 

 surer proof that here is the impediment to the passage of the air, proceed- 

 ing 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 larijngitis 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 sufibcation ; in others, in thick 

 wind or in roaring. Occasionally it is necessary to have recourse to the 

 operation of tracheotomy. 



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

 Blood must be abstracted, and that from the jugular 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 must be somewhat copiously withdrawn, depending on the degree of in- 

 flammation — the practitioner never for a moment forgetting that he has to 

 do with inflammation of a mucous membrane, and that what he does 

 he must do quickly. He will have lost the opportunity of straggling 

 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 any determinate quantity of blood, and leives his 

 assistant or his groom to abstract it ; he must himself bleed, and until the 

 pulse flutters or the constitution is evidently affected. 



I^ext must be given the fever medicine already recommended : the nitre, 

 and emetic tartar, with aloes. Aloes may here be safely given, because 

 the chest is not yet implicated. To this must be added, and immediately, 

 a blister, and a sharp one. The surgeon is sui-o of the part, and he can 

 bring his counter-ii-ritant almost into contact Avith it. 



Inflammation of the larynx, if not speedily subdued, produces sad disor- 

 ganisation in this curiously formed and important machine. Lymph is 

 effused, morbidly adhesive, and speedily organised — the membrane becomes 

 thickened, considerably, permanently so — the submucous cellular tissue 

 becomes oedematous ; the inflammation spreads from the membrane of the 

 larynx to the cartilages, and difficulty of breathing, and at length confirmed 

 roaring, ensue. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE TEACHEA. 



Inflammation of the membrane of the lar^aix, and especially when it has 

 run on to ulceration, may rapidly spread, and involve the greater part or 

 the whole of the lining Tuembrane of the trachea. Auscultation will dis- 

 cover when this is taking place. If the disease is extendiug down the 

 trachea, it must be followed. A blister must reach as low as the rattling 

 sound can be detected, and somewhat beyond this, and tlie fever medicines 

 must be administered in somewhat increased doses. 



