170 THE HORSE 



organised bands of lymph ; in fact, the latter is a very- 

 striking characteristic of this disease. Extension of the 

 inflammatory action to the heart sac and structures in 

 contiguity to it are commonly observed after death. 

 It is very insidious in its development, and one may find, 

 before being aware of it, that the animal is well advanced 

 in the disease unless special observation is kept. If this 

 complaint is suspected immediate isolation is one of the 

 best safeguards against extension of the malady. An 

 early indication of pneumonia developing is afforded by 

 using the clinical thermometer. The temperature rises 

 several degrees and the breathing is disturbed. The 

 last-named is one of the best guides for the amateur, more 

 especially when he is aware that the animal is out of sorts. 

 It suddenly becomes very dull and Hstless and probably 

 food is left in the manger. The mucous membranes of 

 the eyes and nose are intensely red as a rule. The symp- 

 toms rapidly increase until the breathing becomes very 

 laboured, when death is certain to occur. As previously 

 stated, this lung fever of the horse is an extremely fatal 

 malady, but the mortahty is considerably reduced by 

 the intra-venous injection of formahn which the writer 

 and some other Veterinary officers employed. This treat- 

 ment is of unquestionable value when it is appHed. As 

 stated elsewhere in this small manual, pure air is of the 

 utmost importance, consequently all pneumonia cases do 

 better in the open than when they are stabled, provided 

 that the animals are kept dry and properly clothed. 



There is another form of congestion of the lungs, 

 technically known as acute pneumonia or acute pulmonary 

 apoplexy, the latter part of the title being derived from 

 the fact of its suddenness of onset. It sometimes occurs 

 in unconditioned hunters or in horses which are put to 

 extremely severe exertion without being previously made 

 fit for this extra exertion. In the vernacular of the 

 horseman it looks as though the animal had " bellows to 

 mend " — a very expressive term. Its development is so 



