134 DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS 



where there is intense inflammation and great swelling of the mucous 

 membrane; it is accompanied by more or less wheezy or rattling sounds, 

 which can be heard by placing the ear on the larynx. There is not much 

 constitutional disturbance in the milder forms of this disease; in more 

 acute cases, the animal is depressed and eats slowly; this is probably 

 caused by a certain amount of irritation extending to the muscles of 

 deglutition, and to swelling of the mucous membrane, or from some form 

 of pharyngitis, which may be present at the same time; if so, it is generally 

 accompanied by a slight rise of temperature and loss of appetite. This 

 condition in young dogs should always be watched very carefully, as 

 it may be one of the premonitory symptoms of an attack of distemper. 



The disease generally lasts only a few days, but if a case is neglected 

 and does not receive care and proper treatment, it is apt to remain irri- 

 table and become chronic. 



Therapeutics. — The first thing to do is to remove the animal from 

 cold draughts and apply friction, with some mild liniment over the larynx, 

 also the application of a moist warm compress over the larynx with the 

 inhalation of medicated vapors, a pinch of belladonna leaves or a tea- 

 spoonful of tincture of benzoin in boiling water, and internally the admin- 

 istration of some expectorant or narcotic. These medicines should only 

 be administered when the cough is persistent and the violence of it 

 tends to aggravate the irritated condition of the mucous membrane; 

 morphine is the best, as it lessens the cough and irritation; it can he 

 administered with potassium cyanide and syrup of wild cherry. The 

 following prescription is very useful where the animal is a small pet dog, 

 that is, one kept in the room; it tends to prevent the cough, which is 

 always worse at night: 



I^. MorphiiB sulph., 0.1 



Aq. amygdalis amarse, 24.0 



Sig. — Half a teaspoonful three times daily. 



I^. Morphise sulph., 0.12 



Potassii cyanitU, 0.15 



Syr. pruni virginianse, 9G.00 

 Sig. — One teaspoonful four times-daily. 



I^. Ext. hyoscyami, 1.0 



Liq. ammon. acetatis, 20.0 



Sig. — Twenty drops every half hour. 



I^. Heroin hydrocliloratis, 0.1 



Aqua-, 150.0 



S. — One to two teaspoonfuls every six hours. 



Occasionally we may find a foreign body in the larynx presenting 

 the following symptoms: Dyspnoea accompanied by loud coughing or 



