•290 PLEURISY. 



iniinersion as liigli as the chest in cold water, and extra Tvork of thei 

 respiratory machine. To these may be added — wounds penetrating into the 

 thorax and lacerating the pleura, fracture of the ribs, or violent contu- 

 sions on the side, the inflammation produced by which is propagated 

 through the parietes of the chest. 



It is sometimes confined to one side or to one of the pleursB on either 

 side, or even to patches on that pleura, whether pulmonary or costal. The 

 inflammation of the lungs which occasionally accompanies rabies is cha- 

 racterised by a singular patchy appearance. That prodaced on the costal 

 pleura, arising from violence or other causes, rarely reaches the pulmonary 

 covering ; and that which is communicated to the tunic of the lungs, by 

 means of the intensity of the action within, does not often involve the 

 costal pleura. In some cases, however, it afi'ects both pleurce and both 

 sides, and spreads rapidly from one to the other. 



The first symptom is rigor, followed by increased heat and partial sweats; 

 to these succeed loss of appetite and spirits, and a low and painful cough. 

 The inspiration is a short sudden effort, and broken ofi' before it is fully 

 accomplished, indicating the pain felt from the distension of the irritable 

 because inflamed membrane. This symptom is exceedingly characteristic. 

 In the human being it is well expressed by the term stitch, and an exceed- 

 ingly painful feeling it is. The expiration is retarded, as much as possible, 

 by the use of all the auxiliary muscles which the animal can press into the 

 service, but it at length finishes abruptly in a kind of spasm. This pecu- 

 liarity of breathing, once carefully observed, cannot be forgotten. The 

 next character is found in the tenderness of the sides when the costal pleura 

 is affected. This tenderness often exists to a- degree scarcely credible. If 

 the side is pressed upon the horse will recede with a low painful grunt ; 

 he will tremble, and try to get out of the way before the hand touches 

 him again. The attempt to turn him short, or quickly round, will produce 

 the same effect. Then comes another indication, both of pain and the 

 region of that pain, — the intercostal muscles affected by the contiguous 

 pleura, and in their turn affecting the pauniculus carnosus or subcutaneous 

 muscular expansion without — there are twitchings of the skin on the side 

 ■ — corrugations — waves creeping over the integument. This is never seen 

 in pneumonia. There is however, as we may expect, the same disinclina- 

 tion to move, for every motion must give intense pain. 



The pulse should be anxiously studied. It presents a decided difference 

 of character from that of pneumonia. It is increased in rapidity, but instead 

 of being oppressed, and sometimes almost unappreciable, as in pneumonia, 

 it is round, full, and sti'ong. Even at the last, when the strength of the 

 constitution begins to yield, the pulse is wiry, although small. 



The extremities are never deathy cold ; they may be cool, they are oftener 

 variable, and they sometimes present increased heat. The body is far more 

 liable to variations of temperature ; and the cold and the hot fit more fre- 

 quently succeed each other. The mouth is not so hot as in pneumonia, 

 and the breath is rarely above its usual temperature. 



A difference of character in the two diseases is here particularly e%ndent 

 on the membrane of the nose. Neither the crimson nor the purple injec- 

 tion of pneumonia is seen on the lining of the nose, but a somewhat darker 

 dingier hue. 



Both the pneumonic and pleuritic horse will look at his flanks, thus 

 pointing out the seat of disease and pain ; but the horse with pneumonia 

 will turn himself more slowly round, and long and steadfastly gaze at his 

 side, while the action of the horse with pleurisy is more sudden, agitated, 

 spasmodic. The countenance of the one is that of settled distress ; the 

 other brightens up occasionally. The pang is severe, but it is transient, 



