riiTmsis ruLMoxALis, or coxsuMriiox. 29a 



vessels of the abdomen, or both of them, soon sympathise in the debility 

 of those of the thorax. 



PHTHISIS PULMONALIS, OR CONSUMPTION. 



Wlien describing the accompaniments and consequences of inflam- 

 mation of the lungs in the horse, mention was made of this fatal complamt. 

 It is usually connected mth or the consequence of pneumonia or pleurisy, 

 and especially in horses of a peculiar formation or temperament. 



If a narrow-chested, flat-sided horse is attacked \vith inflammation of 

 the lungs, or severe catarrhal fever, experience tells us that we shall have 

 more difficulty in subduing the disease in him, than in one deeper in the 

 g-irth or rounder in the chest. The lungs, deficient in bulk according to 

 the diminished contents of the chest, have been overworked in supplying 

 the quantity of arterial blood expended in the various purposes of life, 

 and particularly that which has been required under unusual and violent 

 exertion. Inflammation of the lungs has consequently ensued, and that 

 inflammatory action has acquired an intense character under circum- 

 stances by which another horse would be scarcely affected. 



When this disease has been properly treated, and apparently subdued, 

 the horse cannot be quickly and summarily dismissed to his work. He is 

 sadly emaciated — he long continues so — his coat stares— his skiu clings 

 to his ribs — his belly is tucked up, notwithstanding that he may have 

 plenty of mashe^ and carrots, and green meat and medicine — ^his former 

 gaiety of spirit does not return, or if he is willing to work he is easily 

 tired, sweating on the least exertion, and the sweat most profuse about 

 the chest and sides — his appetite is not restored, or, perhaps, never has 

 been good, and the slightest exertion puts him completely off his feed. 



We observe him more attentively, and even as he stands quiet in his 

 stall, the flanks heave a little more laboriously than they should do, and 

 that heaving is painfully quickened when sudden exertion is required. 

 He coughs sorely, and discharges from the nose a mucus tinged with 

 blood, or a fluid decidedly puriilent — the breath becomes offensive — the 

 jDulse is strangely increased by the slightest exertion. 



When many of these symptoms are developed, the animal will exhibit 

 considerable pain on being gently struck on some part of the chest ; the 

 cough then becomes more freqiient and painful ; the discharge from^ the 

 nose more abundant and foetid, and the emaciation and consequent debility 

 more rapid, until death closes the scene. 



The lesions that are presented after death are very uncertain. Gene- 

 rally there are tubercles — sometimes very minute, at other times large in 

 size. They are in different states of softening, and some of them, having 

 suppurated, burst into the bronchial passages, and exhibit abscesses of 

 enormous bulk. Other portions of the lungs are shrunk, flaccid, indurated 

 or hepatised, and of a pale or red-brown colour ; and there are occasional 

 adhesions between the lungs and the sides of the chest. 



Is this an hereditary disease ? There is some difficulty in deciding the 

 point. It has been scarcely mooted among horsemen. One thing only is 

 known— that the side has been flat, and the belly tucked up, and the animal 

 has had much more ardour and wilhngness than jDhysical strength. These 

 conformations and this disposition we know to be hereditary, and thus 

 far phthisis may be said to be so too. Low and damp situations, or a 

 variable and ungenial climate, may render horses peculiarly susceptible of 

 chest-affections. All the absurd or cruel or accidental causes of pneu- 

 monia lay the foundation for phthisis ; and, particularly, those causes 

 which tend to debilitate the frame generally, render the horse more liable 

 to chest-afiections, and less able to ward ofi" their fiital consequences. The 



