78 ASTHMA. 



standing-, are best treated by alteratives, and all diseases 

 that are brouo-ht on bv confinement and artificial babits are 

 best prevented by them. 



-*sr*#*^- 



Asthma, 



Dogs are subject to a diseased alteration in the org-ans of 

 respiration, which, however it may differ from some of the 

 varieties of the human complaint of that name, and what- 

 ever dissimilitudes are observable in its g-eneral orig-in, pro- 

 g-ress, and termination, yet it so nearly resembles that type 

 of the disease called the aerial or dry human asthma, as to 

 justly warrant the application of this popular term. The in- 

 habitants of country towns and villag-es can form no just idea 

 of the prevalence and destructive nature of this disease in 

 cities, and confined neig-hbourhoods : in such situations it is 

 a most common complaint, and shortens the lives of thousands. 

 Dogs appear to have no constitutional liability to the disease; 

 on the contrary, its orig-in may be always traced to the ope- 

 ration of accidental circumstances ; as, close confinement, 

 over feeding", and an extraordinary accumulation of fat ; 

 which latter is the inevitable consequence of the former, 

 and may be considered as the immediate cause of the com^ 

 plaint itself. According- to the deg-ree in which these predis- 

 posing- causes have been applied, the disease appears earlier 

 or later in life. In some it comes on at three or four years 

 old : in others, rather less improperly managed, it may not 

 appear until seven or eight : but, sooner or later, most dogs, 

 confined in close situations, deprived of exercise, and fed 

 with heating and luxurious food, become subjected to it, and 

 as certainly have their lives shortened by it. 



The disease is usually very insidious in its attack, com- 

 mencing by a slight cough, which returns at uncertain inter- 

 vals, and is therefore hardly noticed. Gradually, however, 

 the cough becomes more frequent and troublesome, and 

 assumes its peculiar harsh, dry, and sonorous character : and 



